Doubles Finish Leads Lady Vols to 4-0 Win Over Kentucky

Sunday, April 10

Knoxville, TN

12 PM

University of Tennessee

Kentucky

Doubles Finish Leads Lady Vols to 4-0 Win Over Kentucky

April 10, 2022 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Box Score WATCH - Jarryd Chaplin Postgame WATCH - Kylie Duckworth Postgame WATCH - Tenika McGiffin Postgame WATCH - Callie Creath Postgame Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE – Kylie Duckworth and Elza Tomase delivered a clutch doubles win to secure the point, pushing the Tennessee women's tennis team to a 4-0 victory over Kentucky, Sunday afternoon at Barksdale Stadium.

Duckworth, celebrating her senior day, appropriately helped finish the job in doubled with Tomase. After Rebeka Mertena and Esther Adeshina got the 6-4 victory on Court 2, the Lady Vols dropped their match on Court 1, bringing all eyes to Court 3 and the freshman/senior duo. Leading 5-4 and freshly off of holding serve, the pair dominated the last frame getting the break to win. UT would not concede a point in the final game to take the match, 6-4.

"It was kind of fitting that Kylie Duckworth was part of that doubles point clinch today," associate head coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "She showed us what she had in those last five minutes there."

The Lady Vols (12-7, 6-5 SEC) got their first singles point of the afternoon on Court 3 where Elza Tomase carried the momentum from doubles into a dominating singles victory. She took down Carla Girbau 6-2, 6-3.

"As far as the tennis goes, it was pretty good day," Chaplin continued. "It was encouraging that we had those three singles points and a fourth getting close with two more battling out there."

Eleonora Molinaro owned her second set on Court 6 to take Tennessee's third point of the match. She bested Maialen Morante 6-3, 6-1, and has pushed her dual-season record to 11-3.

It was a race to the finish for the last point as Mertena, Adeshina and Daria Kuczer were all in contention to clinch the match. Mertena emerged as the one to seal the deal, finishing a 6-3, 6-4 victory on Court 1 with a break deciding the match against No. 1 Kentucky (12-12, 0-11 SEC) player, Florencia Urrutia.

Though she didn't finish, Kuczer was up 30-Love, leading 5-2 in the second set, after winning the first, when Mertena clinched the victory.

Prior to the match, Tennessee honored three seniors, Callie Creath, Kylie Duckworth and Tenika McGiffin for their years of hard work, energy and effort they gave to the program.

"I feel extremely privileged to have coached Callie Creath, Kylie Duckworth and Tenika McGiffin in their time here at Tennessee," associate head coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "They are three wonderful girls who are incredibly mature and have given a lot to this university and this program."

UP NEXT
The Lady Volunteers hit the road for trip to the state of Alabama where it will face Auburn on Friday, April 15, and the Crimson Tide on Sunday, April 17, to close the regular season schedule.

25 FOR DUCK
Kylie Duckworth won her 25^th career doubles match in the victory with Elza Tomase.

FIVE IN DUBS
Tennessee has taken the doubles point in its last five matches. The Lady Vols tied their streak this season of five-straight doubles points taken, last done from Feb 19 to March 6.