University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships
Lady Vols Eliminated in Regionals
October 20, 2014 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- With only two days left in the USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships, Tennessee seniors Joanna Henderson and Caitlyn Williams hoped to punch their ticket to the finals on Tuesday.
Henderson and Williams started the day off with a doubles match against Vanderbilt's Courtney Colton and Sydney Campbell. It was the No. 2 vs. the No. 3 seeds of the tournament. The winner of the match would advance to the finals. As the match progressed, the senior duo felt their chances continue to slip away. They lost the match 6-3, 6-0 and were eliminated from the tournament.
The day was not yet finished, though, for Henderson. After advancing to the quarterfinals in singles, she was set to take on Ashleigh Antal, another player from Vanderbilt.
Henderson took an early lead with a 6-3 win in the first set of the match and jumped out to an early 2-1 lead in the second set. That was where the success ended for the Lady Vol. Antal ended up coming back and winning the last two sets 6-4, 6-1 to take the match.
Although it wasn't the best outcome for the team, there were still positives to be taken away.
"Overall, the tournament was a success," Henderson said. "Not only for me but my team as well. I feel like we all got better over the weekend, and that is what we need to do. We can take a lot of things away from this and get ready for the next matches."
Williams felt the same as her doubles partner towards the tournament.
"I think the tournament went really well," Williams said. "It is obviously difficult any time another team gets the best of you, but I am just really excited to be back playing again."
Williams had shoulder surgery during the summer. She missed the Furman Fall Classic in September while still recovering. This weekend was the most tennis she had played in about seven months.
The return was not only big for Williams but Henderson as well.
"It was really exciting to be back playing with Caitlyn again," Henderson said. "We have been unlucky with injuries, but this weekend showed us where we can and want to be competing. It just gives us a lot of confidence and things to work on before we play next."
The Lady Vols may have wanted a longer run in the tournament, but what they finished with was still a victory in their books.
Tennessee's next event will be Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2 for the Tennessee Fall Invite.
USTA/ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships
Monday Results
Singles Quarterfinals
Ashleigh Antal (Vanderbilt) def. Joanna Henderson (UT), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
Doubles Semifinals
Colton/Campbell (Vanderbilt) def. Henderson/Williams (UT), 6-3, 6-0
