STANFORD, Calif. – For Stanford to repeat as NCAA champions, the Cardinal will need to receive regular contributions from its freshmen on the back courts.
On Sunday, rookies Emma Higuchi and Emily Arbuthnott proved they are capable.
Both players grinded out pressure-packed three-setters, with Arbuthnott providing the clincher in No. 25 Stanford's 4-3 victory over No. 7 Vanderbilt in what felt more like a postseason match at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Tied 3-3, Arbuthnott outlasted Emma Kurtz 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) in a battle of talented newcomers at the No. 5 spot. It was the first career three-setter for Arbuthnott, who extended her winning streak to seven matches on the way to collecting her 10th victory of the season.
The match was especially significant for Stanford (5-1), which earlier in the week dropped 20 spots in the latest edition of the ITA's computerized rankings, despite coming off a challenging road trip in which it defeated No. 6 Oklahoma State and lost to No. 1 Florida. And while nobody in the country honestly believes there are 24 teams better than Stanford, the Cardinal suddenly finds itself in a position where it must take advantage when facing top-ranked opponents.
Mission accomplished on Sunday, with Stanford putting away a solid top-10 foe in Vanderbilt (5-4). The squads were meeting for the first time since last May, when the Cardinal defeated the Commodores 4-2 in the NCAA semifinals.
Stanford claimed the doubles point for a 1-0 lead, booking victories at the Nos. 2 and 3 spots.
Vanderbilt evened the match at 1-1 following Astra Sharma's 6-4, 6-1 triumph over Taylor Davidson at the No. 1 spot.
The Cardinal moved in front 2-1 following Melissa Lord's 6-0, 7-5 win over Georgina Sellyn on court three. Lord has been Stanford's hottest player, riding a 10-match winning streak to improve to 14-1 overall.
The Commodores responded when Sydney Campbell's 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Caroline Doyle knotted the score at 2-2.
Higuchi's team-high 16th win – a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 gut check at the No. 6 spot – briefly gave Stanford the upper hand at 3-2.
It looked as if Caroline Lampl might power her way to the clincher, but Christina Rosca prevailed 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5) at the No. 4 position.
That result shifted everyone's attention to Arbuthnott, who calmly built a 5-3 lead in the third set after trailing 2-0 and hung on in the tiebreaker.
Stanford returns to action on Friday, March 3, against Fresno State at 1:30 p.m. PT.
No. 25 Stanford 4, No. 7 Vanderbilt 3
DOUBLES
1) No. 32 Sharma/Smith (VANDY) d. Arbuthnott/Davidson (STAN) 6-3
2) No. 36 Doyle/Lord (STAN) d. Campbell/Sellyn (VANDY) 6-4
3) Higuchi/Lampl (STAN) d. Kurtz/Rosca (VANDY) 6-0
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2
SINGLES
1) No. 5 Astra Sharma (VANDY) d. No. 65 Taylor Davidson (STAN) 6-4, 6-1
2) No. 16 Sydney Campbell (VANDY) d. No. 37 Caroline Doyle (STAN) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2
3) No. 8 Melissa Lord (STAN) d. Georgina Sellyn (VANDY) 6-0, 7-5
4) Christina Rosca (VANDY) d. No. 83 Caroline Lampl (STAN) 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5)
5) No. 49 Emily Arbuthnott (STAN) d. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5)
6) No. 43 Emma Higuchi (STAN) d. Emily Smith (VANDY) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Order of Finish: 1, 3, 2, 6, 4, 5