University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Kick Off Fall Slate at Wolfpack Invitational
September 22, 2022 | Women's Tennis
CARY, N.C. – Set and ready to go for its first event of the fall season, the Tennessee women's tennis team travel four individuals to Cary, North Carolina to compete in the Wolfpack Invitational/Ranked Spotlight +1 at the Cary Tennis Park beginning Thursday afternoon.
The group tabbed for action includes two high-impact returners in Rebeka Mertena and Elza Tomase, coupled with a pair of newcomers in freshman Catherine Aulia and junior college transfer Lauren Anzalotta. Mertena enters the fall with a ranking of No. 27 individually while Tomase checks in at No. 96 in singles.
"Our girls have been working so hard this offseason, I am looking forward to seeing these four get out on the court," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "This is one of the toughest tournaments all fall and I am very excited to see how mentally and physically tough we are."
The loaded draw features competitors from Arizona State, Auburn, Duke, ETSU, Kansas, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, North Carolina, NC State, Oklahoma, Ohio State, USC, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Virginia. 12 of the 16 programs playing in the event are represented by an individual in the singles top-25.
Last year was a successful one for the Lady Volunteers at this event, 2022 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Tenika McGiffin won Flight B at the tournament, marking her second collegiate tournament victory in her final season of eligibility.
"We have some familiarity with this event and the caliber of opponent we will be facing," associate head coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "We will be opportunistic and enjoy the chance to compete again. I am also excited to see Lauren and Catherine compete in orange for the first time."
Doubles play kicks off Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. when Aulia and Anzalotta take the court to face Brianna Shvets and Katie Codd from Duke.
A schedule for the first round of the event can be found below:
Doubles
Thursday, Sept. 22
Catherine Aulia/Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) v. Branna Shvets/Katie Codd (DUKE) – 5 p.m.
Elza Tomase/Rebeka Mertena (TENN) v. Kari Miller/Jaedan Brown (MICH) – 5:45 p.m.
Singles
Friday, Sept. 23
#1 Eryn Cayetano (USC) v. #96 Elza Tomase (TENN) – 9 a.m.
#27 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) v. #28 Carson Tanguilig (UNC) – 9 a.m.
Catherine Aulia (TENN) v. Amelia Rajecki (NCST) – 11 a.m.
Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) v. Anika Yarlagadda (UNC) – 11 a.m.
The group tabbed for action includes two high-impact returners in Rebeka Mertena and Elza Tomase, coupled with a pair of newcomers in freshman Catherine Aulia and junior college transfer Lauren Anzalotta. Mertena enters the fall with a ranking of No. 27 individually while Tomase checks in at No. 96 in singles.
"Our girls have been working so hard this offseason, I am looking forward to seeing these four get out on the court," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "This is one of the toughest tournaments all fall and I am very excited to see how mentally and physically tough we are."
The loaded draw features competitors from Arizona State, Auburn, Duke, ETSU, Kansas, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, North Carolina, NC State, Oklahoma, Ohio State, USC, South Carolina, Texas A&M and Virginia. 12 of the 16 programs playing in the event are represented by an individual in the singles top-25.
Last year was a successful one for the Lady Volunteers at this event, 2022 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Tenika McGiffin won Flight B at the tournament, marking her second collegiate tournament victory in her final season of eligibility.
"We have some familiarity with this event and the caliber of opponent we will be facing," associate head coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "We will be opportunistic and enjoy the chance to compete again. I am also excited to see Lauren and Catherine compete in orange for the first time."
Doubles play kicks off Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. when Aulia and Anzalotta take the court to face Brianna Shvets and Katie Codd from Duke.
A schedule for the first round of the event can be found below:
Doubles
Thursday, Sept. 22
Catherine Aulia/Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) v. Branna Shvets/Katie Codd (DUKE) – 5 p.m.
Elza Tomase/Rebeka Mertena (TENN) v. Kari Miller/Jaedan Brown (MICH) – 5:45 p.m.
Singles
Friday, Sept. 23
#1 Eryn Cayetano (USC) v. #96 Elza Tomase (TENN) – 9 a.m.
#27 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) v. #28 Carson Tanguilig (UNC) – 9 a.m.
Catherine Aulia (TENN) v. Amelia Rajecki (NCST) – 11 a.m.
Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) v. Anika Yarlagadda (UNC) – 11 a.m.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Everything Orange S2 I Catherine Aulia (Women's Tennis)
Thursday, March 20
WTN | Alison Ojeda and Sofia Cabezas Postgame vs. UCLA (5.18.24)
Saturday, May 18
WTN | Alison Ojeda and Lauren Anzalotta Media Availability (5.15.24)
Wednesday, May 15
Everything Orange | Alison Ojeda (Women's Tennis)
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