University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Begin Main Draw at ITA All-American Championship
October 05, 2022 | Women's Tennis
CARY, N.C. - Ready to go at the ITA All-American Championships are two members of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers tennis team. Rebeka Mertena is into the main draw in singles and she joins Esther Adeshina to play in the main draw for doubles with action beginning Wednesday morning, Oct. 5, at Cary Tennis Park.
"This tournament, All-Americans, is something which most individuals around the country strive to compete at in the fall," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "If you are in the main draw at this event, you're likely playing against a former All-American or someone who is soon to be one. There is a very high level of tennis being played."
Live broadcasting from the event will be done by Cracked Racquets on YouTube and can be found here. Playsight streaming is also available for the event and can be viewed by clicking here.
Mertena is competing in the championship for the third time after traveling to the tournament a season ago and in the fall of 2019. The fall 2020 edition of the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 Global Health Crisis. The fifth-year senior is paired up with fellow Southeastern Conference player Ayana Akli from South Carolina in the Round of 32. That matched is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
She will then pair up with Adeshina in the doubles draw for a first-round matchup against Maria Aguiar and Laura Lopez of Boston College. Adeshina is also a veteran to the event, having competed in doubles a season ago with Daria Kuczer. The pairing will kick off their doubles draw at approximately 1:30 p.m.
"I've seen it time and again over two decades of coaching, when players have the opportunity to play at All-Americans, they come back a changed competitor," Ojeda continued. "They either gain an elevated sense of confidence from playing against the best players in the country or they realize exactly where they are and what work needs to be put in prior to the start of the spring season. Both of these outcomes are then brought back to our team and everyone can grow from the experience."
Full coverage of the event can be found on the Tennessee Women's Tennis official Twitter page, @Vol_WTennis or by viewing the streams listed above.
"This tournament, All-Americans, is something which most individuals around the country strive to compete at in the fall," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "If you are in the main draw at this event, you're likely playing against a former All-American or someone who is soon to be one. There is a very high level of tennis being played."
Live broadcasting from the event will be done by Cracked Racquets on YouTube and can be found here. Playsight streaming is also available for the event and can be viewed by clicking here.
Mertena is competing in the championship for the third time after traveling to the tournament a season ago and in the fall of 2019. The fall 2020 edition of the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 Global Health Crisis. The fifth-year senior is paired up with fellow Southeastern Conference player Ayana Akli from South Carolina in the Round of 32. That matched is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
She will then pair up with Adeshina in the doubles draw for a first-round matchup against Maria Aguiar and Laura Lopez of Boston College. Adeshina is also a veteran to the event, having competed in doubles a season ago with Daria Kuczer. The pairing will kick off their doubles draw at approximately 1:30 p.m.
"I've seen it time and again over two decades of coaching, when players have the opportunity to play at All-Americans, they come back a changed competitor," Ojeda continued. "They either gain an elevated sense of confidence from playing against the best players in the country or they realize exactly where they are and what work needs to be put in prior to the start of the spring season. Both of these outcomes are then brought back to our team and everyone can grow from the experience."
Full coverage of the event can be found on the Tennessee Women's Tennis official Twitter page, @Vol_WTennis or by viewing the streams listed above.
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