Dominant Doubles Play Marks First Day of Tennessee Fall Invitational
October 28, 2021 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE – Winning four singles and all three doubles matches, the Tennessee women's tennis team powered through its first day of action at the Tennessee Fall Invitational Friday afternoon.
Eleonora Molinaro supplied the energy the Lady Vols needed as she played an almost three-hour match against Brooke Killingsworth of Wake Forest. She took the first set by tiebreaker, 7-6(5) before losing the second set 1-6. The third set was as tightly contested as the first. At 6-6, Molinaro and Killingsworth battled through long rallies. The sophomore never gave in when down 5-3 in the winner-take-all frame, as she came out on top 7-6(5). Her match was the final one of singles play and supplied the Lady Vols all the energy they needed going into doubles action.
The Lady Vols took on a trio of Illinois doubles pairings in the evening session and continued their success. Molinaro teamed up with Daria Kuczer in doubles and channeled the momentum to a 6-0 victory. The Australian duo of Tenika McGiffin and Olivia Symons notched a 6-3, 7-5 win. Elza Tomase and Esther Adeshina collected a 7-5 defeat to closeout the day for the Lady Vols.
Tomase continued her dominant stretch of singles tennis. After winning the Regional tournament Monday morning, she came out strong again, taking a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Anna Brylin. She was the first Lady Vol to finish singles play.
Kuczer fought hard through long rallies, but made them count, snagging a 7-5, 6-3 win over Casie Wooten.
Tenika McGiffin earned the fourth win of singles play for Big Orange on court No. 1. She took on Anna Campana and played an emotion-filled match. The savvy veteran took her opportunities when they were presented and finished off a 7-6(4), 6-3 match.
The Lady Vols will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for doubles play only. The round robin finds Tennessee's pairs facing those from Kentucky at 2 p.m., that match will be immediately followed by UT and Vanderbilt double. With rain slated to ht the area, action is tentatively scheduled to be played in Goodfriend Tennis Center. If possible, action will move outside to Barksdale Stadium.
Day One Results
Singles
Elza Tomase(UT) def. Anna Brylin(WF) 6-2, 6-2
Peyton Pesavento(WF) def. Callie Creath(UT) 6-1, 6-3
Daria Kuczer(UT) def. Casie Wooten(WF) 7-5, 6-3
Tenika McGiffin(UT) def. Anna Campana(WF) 7-6(4), 6-3
Samantha Martinelli(WF) def. Esther Adeshina(UT) 7-5, 6-7, 7-5
Eleonora Molinaro(UT) def. Brooke Killingsworth(WF) 7-6(6), 1-6, 7-6(5)
Doubles
Daria Kuczer/Eleonora Molinaro(UT) def. Emily Casati/Kida Ferrari(ILL) 6-0
Tenika McGiffin/Olivia Symons(UT) def. Susie Frazier/Ashley Yeah(ILL) 6-3
Elza Tomase/Esther Adeshina(UT) def. Kate Duong/Kasia Tieber(ILL) 7-5
Eleonora Molinaro supplied the energy the Lady Vols needed as she played an almost three-hour match against Brooke Killingsworth of Wake Forest. She took the first set by tiebreaker, 7-6(5) before losing the second set 1-6. The third set was as tightly contested as the first. At 6-6, Molinaro and Killingsworth battled through long rallies. The sophomore never gave in when down 5-3 in the winner-take-all frame, as she came out on top 7-6(5). Her match was the final one of singles play and supplied the Lady Vols all the energy they needed going into doubles action.
The Lady Vols took on a trio of Illinois doubles pairings in the evening session and continued their success. Molinaro teamed up with Daria Kuczer in doubles and channeled the momentum to a 6-0 victory. The Australian duo of Tenika McGiffin and Olivia Symons notched a 6-3, 7-5 win. Elza Tomase and Esther Adeshina collected a 7-5 defeat to closeout the day for the Lady Vols.
Tomase continued her dominant stretch of singles tennis. After winning the Regional tournament Monday morning, she came out strong again, taking a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Anna Brylin. She was the first Lady Vol to finish singles play.
Kuczer fought hard through long rallies, but made them count, snagging a 7-5, 6-3 win over Casie Wooten.
Tenika McGiffin earned the fourth win of singles play for Big Orange on court No. 1. She took on Anna Campana and played an emotion-filled match. The savvy veteran took her opportunities when they were presented and finished off a 7-6(4), 6-3 match.
The Lady Vols will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for doubles play only. The round robin finds Tennessee's pairs facing those from Kentucky at 2 p.m., that match will be immediately followed by UT and Vanderbilt double. With rain slated to ht the area, action is tentatively scheduled to be played in Goodfriend Tennis Center. If possible, action will move outside to Barksdale Stadium.
Day One Results
Singles
Elza Tomase(UT) def. Anna Brylin(WF) 6-2, 6-2
Peyton Pesavento(WF) def. Callie Creath(UT) 6-1, 6-3
Daria Kuczer(UT) def. Casie Wooten(WF) 7-5, 6-3
Tenika McGiffin(UT) def. Anna Campana(WF) 7-6(4), 6-3
Samantha Martinelli(WF) def. Esther Adeshina(UT) 7-5, 6-7, 7-5
Eleonora Molinaro(UT) def. Brooke Killingsworth(WF) 7-6(6), 1-6, 7-6(5)
Doubles
Daria Kuczer/Eleonora Molinaro(UT) def. Emily Casati/Kida Ferrari(ILL) 6-0
Tenika McGiffin/Olivia Symons(UT) def. Susie Frazier/Ashley Yeah(ILL) 6-3
Elza Tomase/Esther Adeshina(UT) def. Kate Duong/Kasia Tieber(ILL) 7-5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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