University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, April 7
Knoxville, TN
4 PM
University of Tennessee
4
vs
1
Florida
#15 Lady Vols Continue Home Heater, Drop #17 Florida, 4-1
April 07, 2023 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Earning its 10th home victory of the season and doing so in convincing fashion, the 15th-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team defeated No. 17 Florida, 4-1, Friday afternoon at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
The day started off with a bang as Tennessee (15-4, 8-2 SEC) raced out of the gates in doubles. All three courts were utterly dominant as the Lady Volunteers took 16 of the 19 total games played. The first court to finish was Court 3 as Eleonora Molinaro and Daria Kuczer blew by Emily De Oliveira and Sophie Williams, 6-0. Shortly after, Catherine Aulia and Lauren Anzalotta secured the doubles point for the Big Orange with a 6-1 winner over No. 79 Carly Briggs and Rachel Gailis.
"It sure is great to be a Tennessee Vol," head coach Alison Ojeda said after the match. "I am so proud of the way our team competed this afternoon. We came out with a clear purpose in doubles and executed with passion."
"Then, in singles, we did what we've been doing all season long: competing at every single spot for every single point," said Ojeda.
Compete is exactly what the Lady Vols did. On Courts 5 and 6, Esther Adeshina and Anzalotta set the tone for the afternoon, quickly taking a commanding lead. Just 30 minutes into singles play, the two held leads of 4-1 and 5-0, respectively, and they were the first two to turn in victories. Adeshina claimed the first point, defeating De Oliveira 6-3, 6-2. Just minutes later, Anzalotta topped Bente Spee, 6-1, 6-2.
It was a grind for the final, clinching point. Florida grabbed a point with a win on Court 4, but Courts 1, 2 and 3 battled away looking to deliver the match-winner. All three had a set advantage after winning the first frame, and it was Kuczer who finally put the match in the win column. She trailed 3-2 in the second set after winning the first 6-3, but she captured a boost of momentum from the clinches on the end courts and then secured five of the last seven games to take the second stanza, 7-5.
The victory marked Tennessee's second consecutive home win over the Gators. The Lady Vols were propelled by a crowd of 242 at Goodfriend Tennis Center which energized the squad throughout the match.
"Our competitive fire was fueled today by an impressive crowd," Ojeda finished. "A huge thank you to Vol Nation. Rocky Top just means more when we all sing it in victory together."
Full results from Friday's match can be found below.
UP NEXT: Tennessee rounds out its regular-season home schedule as it welcomes South Carolina to Knoxville on Sunday, April 9, at Noon ET. The match marks Senior Day for Rebeka Mertena and Daria Kuczer.
#15 Tennessee 4, #17 Florida 1
Singles
1. #38 Elza Tomase (TENN) vs. #37 Sara Dahlstrom (UF) 6-4, 5-5, unfinished
2. #24 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) vs. #45 Carly Briggs (UF) 6-4, 2-6, 2-3, unfinished
3. #46 Daria Kuczer (TENN) def. #86 Alicia Dudeney (UF) 6-3, 7-5
4. Rachel Gailis (UF) def. Catherine Aulia (TENN) 6-3, 6-2
5. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Emily de Oliveira (UF) 6-3, 6-2
6. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) def. Bente Spee (UF) 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 5,6,4,3
Doubles
1. #36 Rebeka Mertena/Esther Adeshina (TENN) vs. #53 Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (UF) 4-2, unfinished
2. Lauren Anzalotta/Catherine Aulia (TENN) def. #79 Carly Briggs/Rachel Gailis (UF) 6-1
3. Eleonora Molinaro/Daria Kuczer (TENN) def. Emily de Oliveira/Sophie Williams (UF) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,2
The day started off with a bang as Tennessee (15-4, 8-2 SEC) raced out of the gates in doubles. All three courts were utterly dominant as the Lady Volunteers took 16 of the 19 total games played. The first court to finish was Court 3 as Eleonora Molinaro and Daria Kuczer blew by Emily De Oliveira and Sophie Williams, 6-0. Shortly after, Catherine Aulia and Lauren Anzalotta secured the doubles point for the Big Orange with a 6-1 winner over No. 79 Carly Briggs and Rachel Gailis.
"It sure is great to be a Tennessee Vol," head coach Alison Ojeda said after the match. "I am so proud of the way our team competed this afternoon. We came out with a clear purpose in doubles and executed with passion."
"Then, in singles, we did what we've been doing all season long: competing at every single spot for every single point," said Ojeda.
Compete is exactly what the Lady Vols did. On Courts 5 and 6, Esther Adeshina and Anzalotta set the tone for the afternoon, quickly taking a commanding lead. Just 30 minutes into singles play, the two held leads of 4-1 and 5-0, respectively, and they were the first two to turn in victories. Adeshina claimed the first point, defeating De Oliveira 6-3, 6-2. Just minutes later, Anzalotta topped Bente Spee, 6-1, 6-2.
It was a grind for the final, clinching point. Florida grabbed a point with a win on Court 4, but Courts 1, 2 and 3 battled away looking to deliver the match-winner. All three had a set advantage after winning the first frame, and it was Kuczer who finally put the match in the win column. She trailed 3-2 in the second set after winning the first 6-3, but she captured a boost of momentum from the clinches on the end courts and then secured five of the last seven games to take the second stanza, 7-5.
The victory marked Tennessee's second consecutive home win over the Gators. The Lady Vols were propelled by a crowd of 242 at Goodfriend Tennis Center which energized the squad throughout the match.
"Our competitive fire was fueled today by an impressive crowd," Ojeda finished. "A huge thank you to Vol Nation. Rocky Top just means more when we all sing it in victory together."
Full results from Friday's match can be found below.
UP NEXT: Tennessee rounds out its regular-season home schedule as it welcomes South Carolina to Knoxville on Sunday, April 9, at Noon ET. The match marks Senior Day for Rebeka Mertena and Daria Kuczer.
#15 Tennessee 4, #17 Florida 1
Singles
1. #38 Elza Tomase (TENN) vs. #37 Sara Dahlstrom (UF) 6-4, 5-5, unfinished
2. #24 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) vs. #45 Carly Briggs (UF) 6-4, 2-6, 2-3, unfinished
3. #46 Daria Kuczer (TENN) def. #86 Alicia Dudeney (UF) 6-3, 7-5
4. Rachel Gailis (UF) def. Catherine Aulia (TENN) 6-3, 6-2
5. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Emily de Oliveira (UF) 6-3, 6-2
6. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) def. Bente Spee (UF) 6-1, 6-2
Order of finish: 5,6,4,3
Doubles
1. #36 Rebeka Mertena/Esther Adeshina (TENN) vs. #53 Alicia Dudeney/Bente Spee (UF) 4-2, unfinished
2. Lauren Anzalotta/Catherine Aulia (TENN) def. #79 Carly Briggs/Rachel Gailis (UF) 6-1
3. Eleonora Molinaro/Daria Kuczer (TENN) def. Emily de Oliveira/Sophie Williams (UF) 6-0
Order of finish: 3,2
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2
#1 Singles Match
123
Sara Dahlstrom / 0 (37/-) [UF]
450
65UF
#2 Singles Match
1234
Carly Briggs / 0 (45/-) [UF]
4630
622UF
#3 Singles Match
12
Alicia Dudeney / 0 (86/-) [UF]
35
67
#4 Singles Match
12
Rachel Gailis / 0 [UF]
66
32
#5 Singles Match
12
Emily de Oliveira / 0 [UF]
32
66
#6 Singles Match
12
Bente Spee / 0 [UF]
12
66
Order of Finish:
5,6,4,3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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