TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama women’s tennis team fell to the 11th ranked Vanderbilt Commodores on Sunday, 4-3, at the UA Varsity Courts. With the loss, the Tide falls to 6-9 overall and 2-4 in the SEC while Vanderbilt improves to 13-3 and 3-4 in conference play.

Vanderbilt earned doubles wins at Nos. 2 and 3 to give the Commodores the point. The Alabama tandem of Paulina Bigos and Andrea Brenes picked up the only Tide doubles victory over Amanda Taylor and Courtney Ulery at No. 1, 8-5.

Back to back singles wins at Nos. 2 and 3 gave Vanderbilt a 3-0 advantage. Brenes put the Tide on the board with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Caroline Ferrell at No. 6 singles and Meritt Emery and Shelley Godwin won the first set on courts four and five, respectively.

Taylor eventually outlasted Tiffany Welcher 6-4, 6-2 to clinch the win for Vanderbilt.

Alabama’s- Emery defeated Ulery at No. 4 singles, 7-6, 7-6, to give the Tide its second win of the day. At No. 6 singles, Godwin swept Keily Ulery in a 10 game pro-set to finish out the match and give Alabama its third point. Godwin won 6-2, 5-7, 10-0.

Alabama is on the road next week as the Tide takes on Georgia and Tennessee.

Singles

1. #22 Amanda Taylor (VU) d. Tiffany Welcher (UA) 6-4, 6-2

2. #34 Catherine Newman (VU) d. Paulina Bigos (UA) 6-2, 6-1

3. #94 Taka Bertrand (VU) d. Alice Tunaru (UA) 6-0, 6-0

4. Meritt Emery (UA) d. Courtney Ulery (VU) 7-6, 7-6

5. Shelley Godwin (UA) d. Keily Ulery (VU) 6-2, 5-7, 10-0

6. Andrea Brenes (UA) d. Caroline Ferrell (VU) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles

1. Bigos/Brenes (UA) d. Taylor/Ulery (VU) 8-5

2. Newman/Ferrell (VU) d. Welcher/Emery (UA) 8-5

3. Bertrand/Ulery (VU) d. Godwin/Svensson (UA) 8-6