WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Florida State women’s tennis team (21-9) record-breaking season came to an end Saturday as they fell to the No. 1 seed, Vanderbilt, 4-0.
“It is tough losing the way we did today,” said head coach Jennifer Hyde. “You never want it to be quick like that. We came across a very good Vanderbilt team and I wish we could have given a few more punches.”
For the first time in program history, the Seminoles made it to the Elite 8 after upsetting Florida in Gainesville and then won their Sweet 16 matchup against Tulsa. The Seminoles finished the season with a 21-9 record including wins over seven ranked teams. The 21 wins were tied for the second most in school history behind only the 1982 team that went 23-17.
“This season has been one for the books,” said Hyde. “We have had so many great and special teams over the years and this one is right up there on the list. It is such a special group of young ladies. It has been a complete honor to work with them all year and they have come together like you would not have predicted four months ago. I am abundantly proud.”
Senior Gabby Castaneda’s fantastic career came to an end as she was not able to finish her match on court four. She finished her amazing career with 66 singles wins and 72 doubles wins to put her in 18th all-time in career wins at FSU.
The day started with the Seminoles losing the doubles point. Court two was the first to fall as they fell behind quickly 3-0. The pair of junior Julia Mikulski and sophomore Andrea Garcia then captured their first and only point of the match as the Commodores took court two 6-1. Court one fell right after as the Seminole duo of sophomore Carla Touly and junior Ariana Rahmanparast jumped out to a 1-0 lead against Vandy’s 11th ranked pairing of Astra Sharma and Fernanda Contreras. The Garnet and Gold then fell behind 1-3 before bringing it to 2-3. Vanderbilt went on to win the last three games to take court one and the doubles point.
In singles, Vanderbilt took down the Seminoles winning on courts one, two and six.
Vandy’s Fernanda Contreras, ranked 10th in the nation, took down freshman Petra Hule in straight sets on court two to give the Commodores a 2-0 lead. On court one, 11th ranked Astra Sharma gave Vanderbilt a 3-0 lead as she took down Touly 6-3, 6-1.
Vanderbilt clinched the match on court six as Summer Dvorak took down Garcia 6-4, 6-0.
As the match ended sophomore Nandini Das was still playing the second set down 2-5, Rahmapanparast was tied 5-5 in the second set and Castaneda was leading 3-2.
“It is exciting because we have pretty much everyone returning and two people coming in,” said Hyde. “All we lose is Gabby, who got to finish her senior year about as good as you can. There are so many things to look forward to in the future. I am proud of the effort the girls have given all season and they made the record books and should be proud of that.”
Touly will continue her 2018 season in few days as she will compete in the 2018 NCAA Singles Championship starting Wednesday, May 23rd.
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VANDERBILT (26-3) 4, FLORIDA STATE (21-9) 0
Doubles
1. #11 Astra Sharma/Fernanda Contreras (VANDERBILT) def. #56 Carla Touly/Ariana Rahmanparast (FLORIDA STATE) 6-2
2. #69 Emma Kurtz/Emily Smith (VANDERBILT) def. Julia Mikulski/Andrea Garcia (FLORIDA STATE) 6-1
3. Christina Rosca/Amanda Meyer (VANDERBILT) vs. Gabriella Castaneda/Petra Hule (FLORIDA STATE) 4-2, unf.
Singles
1. #11 Astra Sharma (VANDERBILT) def. #19 Carla Touly (FLORIDA STATE) 6-3, 6-1
2. #10 Fernanda Contreras (VANDERBILT) def. #122 Petra Hule (FLORIDA STATE) 6-1, 6-1
3. #44 Christina Rosca (VANDERBILT) vs. Nandini Das (FLORIDA STATE) 6-1, 5-2
4 Amanda Meyer (VANDERBILT) vs. Gabriella Castaneda (FLORIDA STATE) 7-6(5), 2-3
5. Emma Kurtz (VANDERBILT) vs. Ariana Rahmanparast(FLORIDA STATE) 6-0, 5-5, unf.
6. Summer Dvorak (VANDERBILT) vs. Andrea Garcia (FLORIDA STATE) 6-4, 6-0 Doubles:
