University of Tennessee Athletics
Sunday, October 18
Knoxville, Tenn.
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University of Tennessee
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UT Fall Invite
Photo by: Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics
Five Lady Vols Collect Singles Wins to Close UT Fall Invite
October 18, 2020 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In the final day of the UT Fall Invite, the Lady Vols collected five-of-six singles wins against Vanderbilt inside the Goodfriend Tennis Center.
"I'm really proud of the way we finished this tournament," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "We played Georgia on day one and like I said, I don't think we competed as hard as we could; the way we responded to that mentally, emotionally and physically I thought was really impressive."
After collecting only one singles win in the opening day of the UT Fall Invite, the Lady Vols bounced back with four wins on day two and five wins on day three.
"For us to go out and win four out of six singles against South Carolina, the defending SEC champions, and then come out on day three and have more energy and more focus and win five of six singles against Vanderbilt," Ojeda said. "I'm really happy with where we are at, we still have some things to work on just as everybody else does."
Senior Tenika McGiffin cruised over Marcela Cruz to give UT their first win of the day. The Brisbane, Australia product won 6-0, 6-4 for her second-straight win of the weekend. Junior Rebeka Mertena followed with a straight-set victory of her own, downing VU's Holly Staff 6-1, 6-3.
Sophomore Carly Briggs downed Commodore Anessa Lee 7-5, 6-1 for her second-straight win of the weekend. The win gives Briggs a 4-2 singles record this fall.
Freshman Esther Adeshina authored her second-straight three-set victory of the UT Fall Invite. She downed Dasha Kourkina 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 for her third-career win. The freshman holds a 3-3 solo record.
Junior Daria Kuczer closed the event for UT, winning a three-set bout (6-2, 5-7, 6-4) over Emma Kurtz. The Szczecin, Poland native has found success as a Lady Vol, holding a 5-1 record through two fall tournaments in Orange and White.
The Lady Vols close out their 2020 fall campaign with a return trip to Nashville to compete in the three-day June Stewart Invitational beginning on Oct. 30.
Singles
Tenika McGiffin (UT) def. Marcela Cruz (VU) 6-0, 6-4
Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Holly Staff (VU) 6-1, 6-3
Carly Briggs (UT) def. Anessa Lee (VU) 7-5, 6-1
Amanda Meyer (VU) def. Johanna Silva (UT) 6-3, 6-3
Esther Adeshina (UT) def. Dasha Kourkina (VU) 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Emma Kurtz (VU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
FOLLOW THE LADY VOLS!
Fans can keep up with the latest Tennessee women's tennis news by following the program on its Facebook (Facebook.com/TennesseeWomensTennis), Twitter (@Vol_WTennis) and Instagram (Vol_WTennis) accounts.
"I'm really proud of the way we finished this tournament," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "We played Georgia on day one and like I said, I don't think we competed as hard as we could; the way we responded to that mentally, emotionally and physically I thought was really impressive."
After collecting only one singles win in the opening day of the UT Fall Invite, the Lady Vols bounced back with four wins on day two and five wins on day three.
"For us to go out and win four out of six singles against South Carolina, the defending SEC champions, and then come out on day three and have more energy and more focus and win five of six singles against Vanderbilt," Ojeda said. "I'm really happy with where we are at, we still have some things to work on just as everybody else does."
Senior Tenika McGiffin cruised over Marcela Cruz to give UT their first win of the day. The Brisbane, Australia product won 6-0, 6-4 for her second-straight win of the weekend. Junior Rebeka Mertena followed with a straight-set victory of her own, downing VU's Holly Staff 6-1, 6-3.
Sophomore Carly Briggs downed Commodore Anessa Lee 7-5, 6-1 for her second-straight win of the weekend. The win gives Briggs a 4-2 singles record this fall.
Freshman Esther Adeshina authored her second-straight three-set victory of the UT Fall Invite. She downed Dasha Kourkina 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 for her third-career win. The freshman holds a 3-3 solo record.
Junior Daria Kuczer closed the event for UT, winning a three-set bout (6-2, 5-7, 6-4) over Emma Kurtz. The Szczecin, Poland native has found success as a Lady Vol, holding a 5-1 record through two fall tournaments in Orange and White.
The Lady Vols close out their 2020 fall campaign with a return trip to Nashville to compete in the three-day June Stewart Invitational beginning on Oct. 30.
Singles
Tenika McGiffin (UT) def. Marcela Cruz (VU) 6-0, 6-4
Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Holly Staff (VU) 6-1, 6-3
Carly Briggs (UT) def. Anessa Lee (VU) 7-5, 6-1
Amanda Meyer (VU) def. Johanna Silva (UT) 6-3, 6-3
Esther Adeshina (UT) def. Dasha Kourkina (VU) 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Emma Kurtz (VU) 6-2, 5-7, 6-4
FOLLOW THE LADY VOLS!
Fans can keep up with the latest Tennessee women's tennis news by following the program on its Facebook (Facebook.com/TennesseeWomensTennis), Twitter (@Vol_WTennis) and Instagram (Vol_WTennis) accounts.
Players Mentioned
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