University of Tennessee
Missouri
Women’s Tennis Central: #20 Tennessee vs. Missouri, Arkansas
March 02, 2023 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – With the Southeastern Conference slate starting up, No. 20 Tennessee women's tennis prepares for opening weekend where it will host Missouri on Friday at 4 p.m. ET and Arkansas on Sunday at Noon ET.
Tennessee (7-2) enters SEC play off a ranked victory last time out, as the Lady Volunteers defeated then-No. 19 UCF, 4-3, in a four-and-a-half-hour marathon match to wrap up the nonconference slate. Eleonora Molinaro delivered in the clutch, grinding out a 6-2, 5-7, 7-5 win over Nandini Sharma to secure the clinch.
Prior to Friday's match, Lady Vol for Life Caitlin Whoriskey will be honored for her induction into the University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame. Further, the first 50 fans at the match will get free popcorn.
Sunday is Kids Day Out with the first 50 receiving a t-shirt. There will also be burritos from Moe's available to the first 100 fans at the match.
Locations of the match are still to be determined due to weather and will be communicated via the teams official social media accounts, @Vol_WTennis.
HEAD COACH ALISON OJEDA
"As tennis players, there are roughly 30 days of team competition per year, so any time it is one of those 30 days, we are incredibly excited. That excitement elevates the second SEC play rolls around. As coaches this time of year, Jarryd Chaplin, Tenika McGiffin and I all wish we were still able to compete because it is in our blood. Watching our players learn the rivalries and the commitment that it takes to succeed at this level is something we all cherish greatly. We can't wait to compete in front of our home crowd tomorrow!"
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Missouri enters conference play with a 9-3 record, though they have lost their last two matches, 4-0, to Kansas and Illinois. The Tigers are fresh off a coaching change as Bianca Turati was named interim head coach on Feb. 23, 2023.
One Tiger sits inside the ITA Individual rankings as Laura Masic holds the No. 117 position in singles. She currently is 15-6 in singles and is no stranger to playing on Rocky Top, as she faced McGiffin on Court 1 a season ago when playing for Indiana on Feb. 19.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas is 6-3 and holds the No. 49 ranking in the ITA's computerized charts, released on Feb. 28. The biggest win for the Razorbacks this season came on the road in Waco, Texas, when they defeated Baylor, 5-2.
Arkansas is under the leadership of second-year head coach Cristina Sanchez-Quintanar and has a singles player and a doubles duo ranked coming into the weekend. In singles, Carolina Gomez Alonso sits at No. 74, while Morgan Cross and Indianna Spink check in at No. 46.
At the end of the conference season, Arkansas will host the 2023 SEC Women's Tennis Championships in late April.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Tennessee and Missouri face off for the 10th time, with the Lady Vols leading the all-time series, 7-2. UT is currently on a five-match winning streak against the Tigers and holds a 3-1 record in Knoxville.
The Big Orange has had a similar level of success against Arkansas, leading the Razorbacks 27-8 all-time. Thirteen of those victories have come on Rocky Top, while the Lady Vols have fallen to Arkansas just four times at home. Tennessee has taken the last three matchups, including a thrilling victory over the Hogs, 4-3, last season in Fayetteville.
UP NEXT: Tennessee will head on the road, facing close by foes as it travels to Vanderbilt on Friday, March 10, and Kentucky on Sunday, March 12.
Players Mentioned
