#14 Lady Vols Set Program Record Earning 11th SEC Win

Sunday, April 16

Starkville, MS

1 PM CT / 2 PM

University of Tennessee

Mississippi State

April 16, 2023 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Earning a program-record 11th Southeastern Conference victory, the 14th-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team defeated Mississippi State, 6-1, Sunday afternoon at AJ Pitts Tennis Centre to finish off the 2023 regular season.

The victory breaks the program record for single-season SEC wins which stood at 10 from the 2001 team. The Lady Vols' record of 18-4 also marks Tennessee's best regular season finish since 2001 when the Big Orange was 21-2.

With an SEC record of 11-2, the Lady Volunteers clinched a double-bye in the 2023 SEC Tournament where they will be a 3-seed. The tournament is slated to begin Wednesday, April 19, in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Tennessee will play its first match on Friday, April 21.

"As we grow older in life, it is not that often that you get to do many things for the first time," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I am thrilled that this 2022-23 team has won 11 SEC regular season matches for the first time in program history. Every single player, coach and staff member that is a part of our squad has really done a great job preparing for success. I just want to say a big thank you to everyone."

The Lady Vols dominated throughout the day, claiming all five of their singles wins in straight sets and earning commanding victories in doubles play.

In doubles action, Rebeka Mertena and Esther Adeshina picked up the clinch for the Lady Vols, 6-3, on Court 1 after Daria Kuczer and Eleonora Molinaro dominated Maddie McKee/Alexandra Mikhailuk, 6-2 on Court 3.

Lauren Anzalotta bounced back nicely on Sunday, owning her bout on Court 6 for the first Tennessee singles point of the match. She decisively topped Sydney Hrehor, 6-2, 6-0.

After Anzalotta's quick victory, it was a fury of match wins. Kuczer, Adeshina and Molinaro quickly secured victories which decided the clinch for Tennessee with ease. The individuals took their matches by scorelines of 6-2, 6-3; 7-5, 6-3, and 6-2, 7-6(3) in that order.

The day of play was bookended by another victory on Court 2 for Mertena. Her 6-3, 7-6(3), win marked career victory No. 103 for the Fifth Year senior, passing her head coach, Alison Ojeda, for eighth on the all-time singles win list. She needs just five more singles victories before the end of the season to rank top-5 in program history for career wins.

Full results from Sunday's match can be found below.

UP NEXT: The Lady Volunteers travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the 2023 SEC Women's Tennis Championship. Tennessee has earned a double-bye in the tournament and will face the winner of South Carolina and Mississippi State/Kentucky on Friday, April 21, at 3 p.m.

#14 Tennessee 6, Mississippi State 1

Singles
1. #95 Emma Antonaki (MS) def. #21 Elza Tomase (TENN) 6-1, 5-7, 6-0
2. #26 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. Gia Cohen (MS) 6-3, 7-6 (7-3)
3. #39 Daria Kuczer (TENN) def. Dharani Niroshan (MS) 6-2, 6-3
4. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MS) 7-5, 6-3
5. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Emily Surcey (MS) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)
6. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) def. Sydney Hrehor (MS) 6-2, 6-0

Order of finish: 6,3,5,4,1,2

Doubles competition
1. #40 Esther Adeshina/Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. Emma Antonaki/Dharani Niroshan (MS) 6-3
2. Maddie Bemisderfer/Gia Cohen (MS) vs. Lauren Anzalotta/Catherine Aulia (TENN) 4-3, unfinished
3. Daria Kuczer/Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. Maddie McKee/Alexandra Mikhailuk (MS) 6-2

Order of finish: 3,1