University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, March 17
Knoxville, TN
4 PM
University of Tennessee
vs
Auburn
Women’s Tennis Central: #12 Tennessee vs. #8 Auburn, #45 Alabama
March 16, 2023 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Back on Rocky Top and gearing up for a big weekend of conference play, the 12th-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team plays No. 8 Auburn on Friday at 4 p.m. ET and Alabama on Sunday at Noon ET.
The location of both matches is still be determined due to weather. Announcement of the official location, whether at Barksdale Stadium or Goodfriend Tennis Center, will be communicated through the team's official social media account, @Vol_WTennis.
The Lady Vols (11-2, 4-0 SEC) continue to roll in conference play, earning a pair of hard-fought victories on the road last weekend. Tennessee took down then-No. 17 Vanderbilt, 4-3, on Friday before besting Kentucky, 4-2, on Sunday.
Sophomore Elza Tomase earned the attention of the league, being named SEC Player of the Week on Wednesday afternoon after yet another stellar set of matches. She is now 7-2 in dual action and has won her last four matches. In those four singles bouts, three have culminated in her defeating a ranked opponent.
Friday's match will be broadcast on SEC Network+ through Cracked Racquet's whiparound coverage of conference action.
A PEEK AT THE CHARTS
Last Tuesday, the ITA updated its individual rankings. Below are each team's ranked singles and doubles players.
Tennessee Lady Volunteers
Singles
#31 Rebeka Mertena
#37 Daria Kuczer
#57 Elza Tomase
Doubles
#55 Esther Adeshina/Rebeka Mertena
Auburn Tigers
Singles
#41 Carolyn Ansari
#46 Ariana Arseneault
Doubles
#20 Carolyn Ansari/Ariana Arseneault
#51 Anastasia Astakhova/Adeline Flach
#64 Adeline Flach/ Angella Okutoyi
Alabama Crimson Tide
Singles
#96 Loudmilla Bencheikh
Doubles
#58 Loudmilla Bencheikh/Anne Marie Hiser
HEAD COACH ALISON OJEDA
"When I was 14 years old, I remember my junior coach telling me, 'you know you're good when you can follow up a big win with another good win.' That has always stuck with me, and that is where our team is at right now. We did a great job beating Vandy and Kentucky, but that was last weekend. We have another exciting opportunity to compete against a well-coached and disciplined team in Auburn and we will either come out hungry or satisfied tomorrow. The only way we give ourselves a shot is if we are hungry."
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Auburn (13-2, 3-0 SEC) comes into Friday's match on an eight-match win streak dating back to Feb. 10, its first match at the ITA National Indoor Championships. Three of the Tigers' last four matches came down to the wire, however, as they defeated North Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss by 4-3 margins.
Auburn's two losses came to North Carolina, 1-6, and Ohio State, 0-4.
The Tigers have found much of their singles success at the No. 2 and No. 4 positions where they are 9-2 and 10-3, respectively. No. 3, however, has been a tough spot in the order, posting just a 5-8 record to this point in the season.
SCOUTING THE TIDE
Alabama (9-4, 2-1 SEC) enters the weekend having won both matches last weekend against Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide's nonconference schedule was highlighted by a 6-1 road victory at UC San Diego and neutral site wins over Tulsa, 4-2, and Yale, 4-1, at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala.
Similar to Auburn, Alabama has had great success at three positions in singles, No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5, and not as much success at others. At the 1, Bama is 9-4, while they are 10-3 and 9-2, respectively, at No. 3 and No. 5. They have struggled at N. 2 and No. 4, going 4-9 and 5-6.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tennessee leads Auburn in the all-time series, 36-12 and is 17-3 at home. The Lady Vols had a big win over AU at the SEC Tournament a season ago in Gainesville, Florida, upsetting the Tigers, 4-3, in the quarterfinals.
Before playing Auburn last April, the Lady Vols topped Alabama, 4-1, and upped its all-time record against the Crimson Tide to 39-18. Tennessee is 19-7 when facing Bama on Rocky Top.
For all the latest information from Lady Vol Tennis, follow the team on Twitter @Vol_WTennis, Instagram @vol_wtennis or Facebook.
The location of both matches is still be determined due to weather. Announcement of the official location, whether at Barksdale Stadium or Goodfriend Tennis Center, will be communicated through the team's official social media account, @Vol_WTennis.
The Lady Vols (11-2, 4-0 SEC) continue to roll in conference play, earning a pair of hard-fought victories on the road last weekend. Tennessee took down then-No. 17 Vanderbilt, 4-3, on Friday before besting Kentucky, 4-2, on Sunday.
Sophomore Elza Tomase earned the attention of the league, being named SEC Player of the Week on Wednesday afternoon after yet another stellar set of matches. She is now 7-2 in dual action and has won her last four matches. In those four singles bouts, three have culminated in her defeating a ranked opponent.
Friday's match will be broadcast on SEC Network+ through Cracked Racquet's whiparound coverage of conference action.
A PEEK AT THE CHARTS
Last Tuesday, the ITA updated its individual rankings. Below are each team's ranked singles and doubles players.
Tennessee Lady Volunteers
Singles
#31 Rebeka Mertena
#37 Daria Kuczer
#57 Elza Tomase
Doubles
#55 Esther Adeshina/Rebeka Mertena
Auburn Tigers
Singles
#41 Carolyn Ansari
#46 Ariana Arseneault
Doubles
#20 Carolyn Ansari/Ariana Arseneault
#51 Anastasia Astakhova/Adeline Flach
#64 Adeline Flach/ Angella Okutoyi
Alabama Crimson Tide
Singles
#96 Loudmilla Bencheikh
Doubles
#58 Loudmilla Bencheikh/Anne Marie Hiser
HEAD COACH ALISON OJEDA
"When I was 14 years old, I remember my junior coach telling me, 'you know you're good when you can follow up a big win with another good win.' That has always stuck with me, and that is where our team is at right now. We did a great job beating Vandy and Kentucky, but that was last weekend. We have another exciting opportunity to compete against a well-coached and disciplined team in Auburn and we will either come out hungry or satisfied tomorrow. The only way we give ourselves a shot is if we are hungry."
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Auburn (13-2, 3-0 SEC) comes into Friday's match on an eight-match win streak dating back to Feb. 10, its first match at the ITA National Indoor Championships. Three of the Tigers' last four matches came down to the wire, however, as they defeated North Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss by 4-3 margins.
Auburn's two losses came to North Carolina, 1-6, and Ohio State, 0-4.
The Tigers have found much of their singles success at the No. 2 and No. 4 positions where they are 9-2 and 10-3, respectively. No. 3, however, has been a tough spot in the order, posting just a 5-8 record to this point in the season.
SCOUTING THE TIDE
Alabama (9-4, 2-1 SEC) enters the weekend having won both matches last weekend against Ole Miss and Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide's nonconference schedule was highlighted by a 6-1 road victory at UC San Diego and neutral site wins over Tulsa, 4-2, and Yale, 4-1, at the Blue Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Ala.
Similar to Auburn, Alabama has had great success at three positions in singles, No. 1, No. 3 and No. 5, and not as much success at others. At the 1, Bama is 9-4, while they are 10-3 and 9-2, respectively, at No. 3 and No. 5. They have struggled at N. 2 and No. 4, going 4-9 and 5-6.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tennessee leads Auburn in the all-time series, 36-12 and is 17-3 at home. The Lady Vols had a big win over AU at the SEC Tournament a season ago in Gainesville, Florida, upsetting the Tigers, 4-3, in the quarterfinals.
Before playing Auburn last April, the Lady Vols topped Alabama, 4-1, and upped its all-time record against the Crimson Tide to 39-18. Tennessee is 19-7 when facing Bama on Rocky Top.
For all the latest information from Lady Vol Tennis, follow the team on Twitter @Vol_WTennis, Instagram @vol_wtennis or Facebook.
Players Mentioned
/ 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)
Thursday, January 18
