University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 26
Nashville, Tenn.
4 p.m. ET
University of Tennessee
4
at
3
Vanderbilt
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Down No. 16 Vanderbilt, 4-3
March 26, 2021 | Women's Tennis
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee women's tennis team picked up their fourth win over a ranked opponent on Friday when they downed No. 16-ranked Vanderbilt, 4-3.
"I'm really proud of the way our team gutted out this evening's win against Vanderbilt," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I really don't think that we played well in doubles so our team showed a lot of maturity by bouncing back on all six courts in singles. We will enjoy this feeling tonight and get right back to work tomorrow so we can prepare for a tough Kentucky team."
Singles play pushed the Lady Vols (10-5, 4-3 SEC) past the Commodores (12-4, 4-4 SEC), winning on four-of-six courts to secure their fourth Southeastern Conference win of the 2021 dual-match season.
Vanderbilt took the doubles point over the Lady Vols with wins on courts one and two to gain an early 1-0 lead.
The Commodores opened singles scoring on court one, gaining a 2-0 advantage.
On court three, No. 46-ranked sophomore Carly Briggs collected UT's first singles point. The sophomore downed Holy Staff in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) to move to 13-11 this season.
"Carly Briggs has been putting a lot of extra work in over the last few weeks and she was an absolute rock star today, I'm so happy for her," Ojeda said.
Senior Johanna Silva knotted the score at 2-2 with a win on court six. The Hamburg, Germany native downed Amanda Meyer 7-5, 6-0 to earn her 82nd career victory. The win improves her to a perfect 4-0 in conference play this season.
"We have a very young team, only one junior and one senior," Ojeda said. "To say Johanna has stepped up would be an understatement. She's become a very reliable practice player, game-day competitor and mature voice for her team in locker room settings."
No. 96-ranked junior Rebeka Mertena gave UT a 3-2 advantage with a methodical 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Emma Kurtz on court two. The win gives the Liepaja, Latvia product her 13th solo win of the year and moves her to 9-4 in conference play.
A win on court four for Vanderbilt tied the dual at 3-3 with court six in a tightly-contested match.
Junior Daria Kuczer clinched the match with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Marcella Cruz. The junior moves to an impressive 12-1 in dual-match play and is now 18-6 in solo play this season. In three-set bouts, the Szczecin, Poland native improves to a stout 5-2
Up next, the Lady Vols travel to Lexington, Kentucky to take on Kentucky at noon ET on Sunday.
#19 Tennessee 4, #16 Vanderbilt 3
Singles competition
1. #54 Christina Rosca (VANDY) def. #56 Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 6-2, 6-2
2. #96 Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) 6-1, 6-3
3. #46 Carly Briggs (UT) def. Holly Staff (VANDY) 6-2, 6-2
4. Anessa Lee (VANDY) def. Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-4, 7-5
5. Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Marcella Cruz (VANDY) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
6. Johanna Silva (UT) def. Amanda Meyer (VANDY) 7-5, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VANDY) def. #25 Esther Adeshina/Daria Kuczer (UT) 6-3
2. #56 Emma Kurtz/Marcella Cruz (VANDY) def. Carly Briggs/Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-1
3. Christina Rosca/Anessa Lee (VANDY) vs. Rebeka Mertena/Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 5-3, unfinished
Match Notes:
Tennessee 10-5, 4-3 SEC; National ranking #19
Vanderbilt 12-4, 4-4 SEC; National ranking #16
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,3,6,2,4,5)
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 our team gutted out this evening's win against Vanderbilt," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I really don't think that we played well in doubles so our team showed a lot of maturity by bouncing back on all six courts in singles. We will enjoy this feeling tonight and get right back to work tomorrow so we can prepare for a tough Kentucky team."
Singles play pushed the Lady Vols (10-5, 4-3 SEC) past the Commodores (12-4, 4-4 SEC), winning on four-of-six courts to secure their fourth Southeastern Conference win of the 2021 dual-match season.
Vanderbilt took the doubles point over the Lady Vols with wins on courts one and two to gain an early 1-0 lead.
The Commodores opened singles scoring on court one, gaining a 2-0 advantage.
On court three, No. 46-ranked sophomore Carly Briggs collected UT's first singles point. The sophomore downed Holy Staff in straight sets (6-2, 6-2) to move to 13-11 this season.
"Carly Briggs has been putting a lot of extra work in over the last few weeks and she was an absolute rock star today, I'm so happy for her," Ojeda said.
Senior Johanna Silva knotted the score at 2-2 with a win on court six. The Hamburg, Germany native downed Amanda Meyer 7-5, 6-0 to earn her 82nd career victory. The win improves her to a perfect 4-0 in conference play this season.
"We have a very young team, only one junior and one senior," Ojeda said. "To say Johanna has stepped up would be an understatement. She's become a very reliable practice player, game-day competitor and mature voice for her team in locker room settings."
No. 96-ranked junior Rebeka Mertena gave UT a 3-2 advantage with a methodical 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Emma Kurtz on court two. The win gives the Liepaja, Latvia product her 13th solo win of the year and moves her to 9-4 in conference play.
A win on court four for Vanderbilt tied the dual at 3-3 with court six in a tightly-contested match.
Junior Daria Kuczer clinched the match with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 win over Marcella Cruz. The junior moves to an impressive 12-1 in dual-match play and is now 18-6 in solo play this season. In three-set bouts, the Szczecin, Poland native improves to a stout 5-2
Up next, the Lady Vols travel to Lexington, Kentucky to take on Kentucky at noon ET on Sunday.
#19 Tennessee 4, #16 Vanderbilt 3
Singles competition
1. #54 Christina Rosca (VANDY) def. #56 Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 6-2, 6-2
2. #96 Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Emma Kurtz (VANDY) 6-1, 6-3
3. #46 Carly Briggs (UT) def. Holly Staff (VANDY) 6-2, 6-2
4. Anessa Lee (VANDY) def. Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-4, 7-5
5. Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Marcella Cruz (VANDY) 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
6. Johanna Silva (UT) def. Amanda Meyer (VANDY) 7-5, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VANDY) def. #25 Esther Adeshina/Daria Kuczer (UT) 6-3
2. #56 Emma Kurtz/Marcella Cruz (VANDY) def. Carly Briggs/Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-1
3. Christina Rosca/Anessa Lee (VANDY) vs. Rebeka Mertena/Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 5-3, unfinished
Match Notes:
Tennessee 10-5, 4-3 SEC; National ranking #19
Vanderbilt 12-4, 4-4 SEC; National ranking #16
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (1,3,6,2,4,5)
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.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
22
Christina Rosca / 0 (54/-) [VANDY]
66
#2 Singles Match
12
66
Emma Kurtz / 0 [VANDY]
13
#3 Singles Match
12
66
Holly Staff / 0 [VANDY]
22
#4 Singles Match
12
45
Anessa Lee / 0 [VANDY]
67
#5 Singles Match
123
636
Marcella Cruz / 0 [VANDY]
364
#6 Singles Match
12
76
Amanda Meyer / 0 [VANDY]
50
Order of Finish:
1,3,6,2,4,5
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ 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
