NASHVILLE - No. 8 Stanford dropped a 4-1 decision to No. 1 Vanderbilt on Saturday morning, coming up empty during its two-match road swing against a pair of top-25 opponents.
Stanford now enters February at 1-2 overall, representing the first time in school history that the Cardinal owns a losing record. It’s not likely to last long, and more a result of such a difficult opening slate, but also definitely a rarity for a tradition-rich program that has played 1,032 total matches spanning 42 years.
Playing with three freshmen in the lineup and without the services of 2015 NCAA singles runner-up Carol Zhao, the Cardinal was coming off a 4-3 loss to No. 25 Mississippi yesterday in a neutral-site match. Stanford had an opportunity for a bounce-back win against the defending NCAA champions on their home court, but Vanderbilt’s depth proved to be the difference.
The Cardinal moved in front 1-0 after capturing the doubles point, thanks to a pair of 6-2 victories at the Nos. 1 and 3 spots. Taylor Davidson and Caroline Doyle evened the stakes after Vanderbilt had gained an early edge, before Krista Hardebeck and Caroline Lampl provided the clincher on court three.
Vanderbilt (3-0) then seized the momentum in singles, quickly notching four straight-set wins to take control of the match. With the Commodores leading 3-1, Courtney Colton defeated Melissa Lord 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 4 spot.
The scheduled match between Caroline Lampl and Fernanda Contreras on court six was never started, as the indoor facility only accommodates five matches to be played at once.
Stanford returns to action on Feb. 5, hosting Saint Mary’s in a 3 p.m. tilt.
No. 1 Vanderbilt 4, No. 8 Stanford 1
DOUBLES
1) No. 10 Davidson/Doyle (STAN) d. No. 11 Sydney Campbell/Courtney Colton (VANDY) 6-2
2) Astra Sharma/Ellie Yates (VANDY) d. Lord/Yee (STAN) 6-1
3) Hardebeck/Lampl (STAN) d. Frances Altick/Fernanda Contreras (VANDY) 6-2
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
SINGLES
1) No. 20 Taylor Davidson (STAN) led No. 15 Frances Altick (VANDY) 6-4, 1-5, unfinished
2) No. 24 Sydney Campbell (VANDY) d. No. 39 Caroline Doyle (STAN) 6-1, 6-2
3) No. 33 Astra Sharma (VANDY) d. Krista Hardebeck (STAN) 6-4, 6-0
4) Courtney Colton (VANDY) d. Melissa Lord (STAN) 6-3, 6-1
5) Georgina Sellyn (VANDY) d. Kimberly Yee (STAN) 6-4, 6-0
6) Caroline Lampl (STAN) vs. Fernanda Contreras (VANDY) not played
Order of Finish: 2, 5, 3, 4