Vanderbilt‘s Ray on the Brink of NCAA Championships Qualification
BATON ROUGE, La.- Vanderbilt’s Christina Ray is one victory from securing a coveted spot in the NCAA Championships, following a successful showing at the ITA Sectional Championships hosted by Louisiana State University. Ray advanced to the singles and doubles semifinals, bolstering her chances for national postseason play.
The Commodore sophomore delivered decisive wins in both singles and doubles competition Friday, setting the stage for Saturday’s crucial matches. Ray’s performance signifies a potential breakthrough for the Vanderbilt women’s tennis program, as qualification for the NCAA Championships represents a pinnacle of collegiate athletic achievement. A successful weekend would see Ray competing on the national stage,elevating the program’s profile and showcasing its talent.
Ray began the day with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 triumph over Nikola Daubnerova of Florida in singles play. Later, alongside teammate Hemma Stammel, she secured a 6-3, 6-3 victory in doubles against Alabama’s Amina Salibayeva and Addison Bowman.
Saturday’s schedule features Ray facing No. 67 Emily Welker of Ole Miss at 11 a.m., followed by Ray and Stammel taking on No. 45 Xinyi Nong and Nikola Daubnerova at 1 p.m. Fans can follow the action via live streaming on lsusports.net/tennisvideo and live stats at stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=623805. Updates and exclusive content are also available by following @VandyWTennis on Instagram and X.