Silva Tabs 80th Career Win, Lady Vols Blank South Carolina

Friday, March 5

Knoxville, Tenn.

2 p.m. ET / NO GENERAL ADMISSION

University of Tennessee

South Carolina

Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Silva Tabs 80th Career Win, Lady Vols Blank South Carolina

March 05, 2021 | Women's Tennis

Box Score UT vs SCAR 3 Photo Gallery

By: Ricky Martinez

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Senior Johanna Silva collected her 80th-career solo win as the Tennessee women's tennis team blanked South Carolina, 4-0, at Barksdale Stadium.

With the Lady Vols up 2-0, Silva earned a quick 6-2, 6-2 win on court six to collect her 80th-career singles win. The Hamburg, Germany native becomes just the 24th Lady Vol to record at least 80 singles wins in Orange and White.

The Lady Vols (8-4, 2-2 SEC) collected their ninth doubles point this season over the Gamecocks (4-8, 1-4 SEC) with wins on one and two.

On court two, junior Tenika McGiffin and sophomore Carly Briggs blew past Allie Gretkowski and Ana Cruz 6-2 to collect the first win of the day. South Carolina picked up a win on court two shortly after, leaving court one to decide the doubles point.

The newcomer duo of junior Daria Kuczer and freshman Esther Adeshina battled for a 6-4 triumph over the No. 29-ranked pair of Mia Horvit and Megan Davies to give UT a 1-0 advantage in the dual match.

Kuczer and Adeshina move to 10-5 as a pair and the win over the South Carolina ranked-duo marks their second ranked-win of the season.

In singles play, UT collected quick wins on courts four, six and five to secure the shutout.

McGiffin breezed by Gretkowski 6-1, 6-2 on court four to move to 7-2 in dual-match play this season and give UT a 2-0 lead.

Silva won her 80th-win on court six just moments before Kuczer clinched her second-straight match for UT on court five. A product of Szczecin, Poland, Kuczer easily downed Ana Cruz 6-1, 6-2.

Kuczer has been electric in her debut season for UT, amassing a 15-6 solo record and 9-1 mark in dual-match play.

Up next, UT hosts No. 27-ranked Florida at Barksdale Stadium at Noon ET on Sunday. Spectators at Barksdale Stadium will be limited to family and friends of the Tennessee women's tennis and visiting program, general admission is not permitted. Should the match be moved indoors the day of the match, those on the pass list will be permitted.

#21 University of Tennessee 4, #35 South Carolina 0
Singles competition
1. Eleonora Molinaro (UT) vs. #34 Mia Horvit (SC) 7-6, 0-0, unfinished
2. #118 Carly Briggs (UT) vs. #30 Megan Davies (SC) 6-7 (3-7), 0-0, unfinished
3. #52 Rebeka Mertena (UT) vs. Silvia Chinellato (SC) 4-6, 3-2, unfinished
4. Tenika McGiffin (UT) def. Allie Gretkowski (SC) 6-1, 6-2
5. Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Ana Cruz (SC) 6-1, 6-2
6. #85 Johanna Silva (UT) def. Elise Mills (SC) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Esther Adeshina/Daria Kuczer (UT) def. #29 Mia Horvit/Megan Davies (SC) 6-4
2. Tenika McGiffin/Carly Briggs (UT) def. Allie Gretkowski/Ana Cruz (SC) 6-4
3. Elise Mills/Silvia Chinellato (SC) def. Eleonora Molinaro/Rebeka Mertena (UT) 6-2

Match Notes:
South Carolina 4-8, 1-4 SEC; National ranking #35
University of Tennessee 8-4, 2-2 SEC; National ranking #21
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (4,6,5)

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