University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, October 13
Tulsa, Okla.
University of Tennessee
at
ITA All Americans
Photo: Jacob Dye/ITA
Staines and McGiffin Take Second at ITA All-Americans
October 13, 2019 | Women's Tennis
TULSA, Okla. – The duo of Kaitlin Staines and Tenika McGiffin took second overall at the ITA All-American Championships.
"I am so proud of our Lady Vols," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I know this loss hurts, but they have proven that they are a national championship caliber team. As always, they represented Rocky Top well and gave their all for Tennessee today."
"Over the past week, Kaitlin and I have been working on playing our brand of doubles," McGiffin said. "We are happy with our approach to each match, and the intensity we brought on the court."
On Sunday, Staines and McGiffin fell to the doubles pair of Jessie Gong and Samantha Martinelli from Yale in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 8-10).
"Overall, very happy for our girls making it to the finals this week," assistant coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "Today was tricky, we played a solid match and I think Yale deserves a lot of credit for making some adjustments early in the second set."
"We took it one match at a time, stuck to a solid game plan and executed," Staines said. "When we came up against some of the best in the country, we embraced every moment."
Staines/McGiffin went 4-1 at the ITA All-American Championships, starting the tournament with a three-match winning streak against top-25 teams.
"This week was productive for Tenika and Kaitlin to learn more about how they want to play together as a doubles team," Chaplin said. "They are a pleasure to coach and it seemed like they had a lot of fun along the way. I am excited they earned the opportunity to play in the fall nationals November, that'll be another great test against the best players in the country."
The Lady Vols will be back in action on Oct. 17, when they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to compete in the ITA Ohio Valley Regional.
Sunday's Results
Doubles
Gong/Martinelli def. Staines/McGiffin 2-6, 6-3, 10-8
"I am so proud of our Lady Vols," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I know this loss hurts, but they have proven that they are a national championship caliber team. As always, they represented Rocky Top well and gave their all for Tennessee today."
"Over the past week, Kaitlin and I have been working on playing our brand of doubles," McGiffin said. "We are happy with our approach to each match, and the intensity we brought on the court."
On Sunday, Staines and McGiffin fell to the doubles pair of Jessie Gong and Samantha Martinelli from Yale in three sets (6-2, 3-6, 8-10).
"Overall, very happy for our girls making it to the finals this week," assistant coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "Today was tricky, we played a solid match and I think Yale deserves a lot of credit for making some adjustments early in the second set."
"We took it one match at a time, stuck to a solid game plan and executed," Staines said. "When we came up against some of the best in the country, we embraced every moment."
Staines/McGiffin went 4-1 at the ITA All-American Championships, starting the tournament with a three-match winning streak against top-25 teams.
"This week was productive for Tenika and Kaitlin to learn more about how they want to play together as a doubles team," Chaplin said. "They are a pleasure to coach and it seemed like they had a lot of fun along the way. I am excited they earned the opportunity to play in the fall nationals November, that'll be another great test against the best players in the country."
The Lady Vols will be back in action on Oct. 17, when they travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to compete in the ITA Ohio Valley Regional.
Sunday's Results
Doubles
Gong/Martinelli def. Staines/McGiffin 2-6, 6-3, 10-8
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Everything Orange S2 I Catherine Aulia (Women's Tennis)
Thursday, March 20
WTN | Alison Ojeda and Sofia Cabezas Postgame vs. UCLA (5.18.24)
Saturday, May 18
WTN | Alison Ojeda and Lauren Anzalotta Media Availability (5.15.24)
Wednesday, May 15
Everything Orange | Alison Ojeda (Women's Tennis)
Thursday, January 18
