#22 Lady Vols Down Charlotte, 4-0 in Season Opener

Friday, January 21

Charlotte, NC

12 PM

University of Tennessee

Charlotte

January 21, 2022 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Kicking off the 2022 dual season, the No. 22-ranked Lady Vol tennis team defeated Charlotte, 4-0, Friday afternoon at Life Time Charlotte.

"Our girls did an excellent job of coming out and just being ready to compete from the very beginning," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "We've spent the last eight months preparing for this moment, and I'm excited about where this group can go moving forward."

The doubles point came quickly for Tennessee (1-0) as Rebeka Mertena and Elza Tomase took the first match, 6-1, playing in the No. 2 slot. Seconds later on court three, Esther Adeshina and Eleonora Molinaro delivered the doubles point clinch, breaking Rocio Safont and Lucie Petruzelova in the eighth game, winning 6-2.

As singled got rolling, No. 14-ranked Mertena made quick work of her match, earning the first Tennessee win of the afternoon over Ruxi Schech 6-3, 6-1 at No. 2.

Molinaro grabbed the third Big Orange point, defeating Emma Wilkins in a gritty 6-3, 6-4 victory from the fifth-position. The sophomore from Luxembourg found success in getting up to the net and pressing Wilkins from the up position.

Tomase, ranked 56^th, battled through a three-setter in her dual debut to clinch the match for the Lady Volunteers. After dropping the first set, 3-6, Tomase struck quickly in the second, winning 6-2. As matches began ending, eyes fell upon the No. 3 court where Tomase and Charlotte's Lucia Quiterio were locked in an emotional third set. Leading 5-4, Tomase broke the 49er junior to take the match and the final point of the afternoon.

Had the match been played out, Daria Kuczer led Rocio Safont, 6-4, 5-4, on court four and was serving match point when Tomase got the winner. Over at court six, Adeshina led Charlotte's Petruzelova, 2-0 in the third set after the two split the first couple of frames. It was a battle on court one as No. 41 Tenika McGiffin and No. 43 Margauz Marquet from Charlotte also split the first two sets, 6-3, 4-6. Marquet led 4-2 at the time the match ended.

FIRST ONE IN THE BOOKS
The match marked the first all-time meeting between Tennessee and Charlotte in women's tennis. Tennessee also improved to 35-11 in season-openers and has won its last three openers on the road.

DOUBLE-DIGITS FROM THE TWO-SPOT
Senior Rebeka Mertena is a perfect 10-0 when playing in the No. 2 slot for singles. She also has double-digit wins playing in the fourth-position where she is 15-4.

HARD TO BEAT
Tennessee handed Charlotte its second home loss since head coach Anthony Davison took over the program before the 2019 season. The 49ers are now 28-2 (.933) on their home court.

UP NEXT
The Lady Volunteers head 85-miles north to face Wake Forest Sunday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. at the Wake Forest Tennis Center. If UT is defeated by the Demon Deacons, the Lady Vols will then face Davidson at 3 p.m., also at the Wake Forest Tennis Center.

No. 22 Tennessee 4, Charlotte 0
Singles
1. #43 Margaux Maquet (CLT) vs. #41 Tenika McGiffin (TENN) 3-6, 6-4, 4-2, unfinished
2. #14 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. Ruxi Schech (CLT) 6-3, 6-1
3. #56 Elza Tomase (TENN) def. Lucia Quiterio (CLT) 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
4. Rocio Safont (CLT) vs. Daria Kuczer (TENN) 4-6, 4-5, unfinished
5. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. Emma Wilkins (CLT) 6-3, 6-4
6. Lucie Petruzelova (CLT) vs. Esther Adeshina (TENN) 4-6, 7-5, 0-2, unfinished

Order of Finish: 2,5,3

Doubles
1. Margaux Maquet/Lucia Quiterio (CLT) vs. Tenika McGiffin/Daria Kuczer (TENN) 3-4, unfinished
2. Rebeka Mertena/ Elza Tomase (TENN) def. Ruxi Schech/Kaavya Sawhney (CLT) 6-1
3. Esther Adeshina/ Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. Rocio Safont/Lucie Petruzelova (CLT) 6-2

Order of Finish: 2,3