University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Kentucky
Lady Vols Top Kentucky, 4-2, in Road Battle
March 12, 2023 | Women's Tennis
LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a four-hour battle, the 16th-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team outlasted Kentucky, 4-2, and capped a two-win weekend on the road Sunday afternoon at Boone Indoor Center.
"What a weekend," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "Any time you can return to Knoxville with two SEC road wins, you know you did something well. We made some changes in doubles yesterday at practice and the team did a great job implementing them early in the match."
After dropping the doubles point the last two times out, Tennessee (11-2, 4-0 SEC) came ready to go against UK. Catherine Aulia and Elza Tomase struck first, winning, 6-2, on Court 3 and commanded the match against Ellie Eades/Zoe Hammond. Daria Kuczer and Eleonora Molinaro would finish it off just a court over, owning the late games against Makayla Mills/Florencia Urrutia on Court 2 to take the match, 6-2, and the doubles point for the Big Orange.
As play shifted to singles, Tomase and Kuczer continued to provide a strong, steady presence in the middle of the Lady Volunteers' lineup. Kuczer delivered the first clinch of the day on Court 3 after blanking Eades in the second set, 6-4, 6-0. She was closely followed by Tomase on Court 2 who topped Elizabeth Stevens, 6-3, 6-3.
Kentucky (6-6, 1-3 SEC) has just four indoor courts, so Esther Adeshina and Lauren Anzalotta had to wait to take the court for their singles bouts. Both battled through really tough first sets and Adeshina was able to overcome Hammond in a tiebreaker. She then battled with Kentucky's No. 5 for another difficult second set, but picked up steam as the match wore on and delivered in the clutch, earning a break at 6-5 and clinching the match for the Lady Vols.
"Everyone is getting called on this season," Ojeda continued. "I am most proud of the fact that our whole team is coming together to compete as one unit."
UP NEXT: The Lady Vols will spend their spring break on Rocky Top as they prepare to host Auburn and Alabama next Friday and Sunday at Barksdale Stadium. Friday's match against the Tigers will begin at 4 p.m. ET, while Sunday's contest against the Crimson Tide kicks off at 1 p.m. ET.
Full results from Sunday's match can be found below.
#16 Tennessee 4, Kentucky 2
Doubles
1. Carlota Molina/Elizabeth Stevens (UK) vs. Esther Adeshina/Rebeka Mertena (UT) 4-4, unfinished
2. Daria Kuczer/Eleonora Molinaro (UT) def. Makayla Mills and Florencia Urrutia (UK) 6-2
3 Catherine Aulia and Elza Tomase (UT) def. Ellie Eades and Zoe Hammond (UK) 6-2
Singles
1. #74 Florencia Urrutia (UK) def. #31 Rebeka Mertena (UT) 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
2. #57 Elza Tomase (UT) def. Elizabeth Stevens (UK) 6-3, 6-3
3. #37 Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Ellie Eades (UK) 6-4, 6-0
4. Lidia Gonzalez (UK) def. Catherine Aulia (UT) 4-6, 7-5, 7-5
5. Esther Adeshina (UT) def. Zoe Hammond (UK) 7-6, 7-5
6. Makayla Mills (UK) vs. Lauren Anzalotta (UT) 7-5, 0-6, 0-3, unfinished
Players Mentioned
