Lady Vols Down Florida, 4-2

Sunday, March 7

Knoxville, Tenn.

Noon ET / NO GENERAL ADMISSION

University of Tennessee

Florida

Photo by: Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

March 07, 2021 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Results Photo Gallery

By: Ricky Martinez

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 21-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team earned their third-straight Southeastern Conference win on Sunday, defeating No. 27-ranked Florida 4-2.

"I mean forget the match, this is the first time our players have done anything like this in the history of the program," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "As a whole from start to finish, if we were going to win this, we literally had to win it. They weren't going to give it to us. They're a fantastic team. And honestly it is rare in life, once you get to my age, you get to do something for the first time; and these ladies just beat Florida for the first time. Moving forward, we have a lot of room to grow. Honestly, I don't think that we played our best tennis, and that's a good thing. If you're able to beat a good team like this and you didn't play your best tennis, then everybody can leave the court feeling like there is still some room to develop and get better."

UT (9-4, 3-2 SEC) claimed the doubles point to gain an early advantage over the Gators (5-6, 3-3 SEC).

Sophomore Carly Briggs and senior Tenika McGiffin picked up the first doubles win of the day, downing Sara Dahlstrom and Ida Jarlskog 6-2 on court two. The win gives the duo their second-straight triumph and move them to 6-4 on the season.

After the Gators claimed court one, court three was left to decide the doubles point.

Junior Rebeka Mertena and freshman Elenora Molinaro got a 7-5 over Sydney Berlin and Layne Sleeth to give UT a 1-0 advantage heading into singles play.

UT claimed singles wins on four, five and six to remain undefeated at home in 2021 with a perfect 7-0 mark.

After UF tied the score at 1-1 with a win on court one, McGiffin gave UT a 2-1 lead with a win on court four over Dahlstrom. The senior won 6-2, 6-4 to earn her second-straight win and moves to 8-2 in dual match play this season.

Florida then tied the score at 2-2 with a win on court two.

Junior Daria Kuczer earned her first win over a ranked opponent as a Lady Vol, downing No. 65-ranked Sleeth 6-3, 7-5. The win gives her an impressive 10-1 dual-match record this season.

With the 3-2 advantage after Kuczer's win, fifth-year senior Johanna Silva clinched the match with a three-set triumph on court six.

"I'm so proud of Johanna and the way she changed that match around herself," assistant coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "I think it's a testament to her hard work. She was not in the same place that she's in now a month ago. So, she's made a good commitment and I expect her to continue on that path."

The Hamburg, Germany native battled back after dropping the opening set, downing Berlin 2-6, 7-6 (0), 6-3 to record her 81st-career victory. In three-set matches, Silva is a stirring 22-12 in her career.

Up next, UT heads to Bryan-College Station, Texas to take on Texas A&M on Friday and competes against LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Sunday.

#21 University of Tennessee 4, #27 Florida 2
Singles competition
1. #32 McCartney Kessler (UF) def. Eleonora Molinaro (UT) 6-2, 7-5
2. Marlee Zein (UF) def. #118 Carly Briggs (UT) 7-6 (7-3), 6-4
3. #52 Rebeka Mertena (UT) vs. Ida Jarlskog (UF) 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 2-1, unfinished
4. Tenika McGiffin (UT) def. Sara Dahlstrom (UF) 6-2, 6-4
5. Daria Kuczer (UT) def. #65 Layne Sleeth (UF) 6-3, 7-5
6. #85 Johanna Silva (UT) def. Sydney Berlin (UF) 2-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-3

Doubles competition
1. #26 McCartney Kessler/Marlee Zein (UF) def. Daria Kuczer/Esther Adeshina (UT) 7-5
2. Tenika McGiffin/Carly Briggs (UT) def. Sara Dahlstrom/Ida Jarlskog (UF) 6-2
3. Eleonora Molinaro/Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Sydney Berlin/Layne Sleeth (UF) 7-5

Match Notes:
Florida 5-6, 3-3 SEC; National ranking #27
University of Tennessee 9-4, 3-2 SEC; National ranking #21
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (1,4,2,5,6)

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