WOMEN’S TENNIS CENTRAL - #16 Tennessee at #22 South Carolina, #18 Florida

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 16 Tennessee women's tennis team will head south for two top-25 SEC matchups, at No. 22 South Carolina and No. 18 Florida. The Lady Volunteers will take on the Gamecocks on Friday at 5 p.m. at Carolina Tennis Center, before facing the Gators at noon at Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex.

Last time out, Tennessee (10-2, 2-0 SEC) picked up its first two conference victories against No. 43 Arkansas and Missouri. The Big Orange claimed a 6-1 decision over the Razorbacks before sweeping Missouri 4-0. Catherine Aulia was the lone Lady Vol to post a perfect 4-0 record on the weekend. The Rosebery, Australia, native claimed two singles wins and two doubles victories.

Including the 4-0 win over the Tigers, Tennessee has registered six shutout victories during its 12 matches so far this season. The Lady Volunteers have also notched 10 doubles points thus far in the season, only dropping the opening point twice.

Tennessee earned five straight triumphs to start the season, defeating Furman, Chattanooga, Wake Forest, Bellarmine and No. 25 Vanderbilt. It marked the first time since 2018 that the squad opened a season with a 5-0 start, including the third time in the Alison Ojeda era.

Milestone Tracker:

The Lady Vols achieved a collection of milestones during the first weekend of SEC play. Anzalotta, a senior, earned her 45th career singles win against Anet Koskel in a 6-2, 6-2 contest at Arkansas. She also added her 35th career doubles victory against Missouri from a 6-2 decision over Rifa/Martinez. Senior Eleonora Molinaro logged her 50th career doubles win with partner Leyla Britez Risso in a 6-2 effort against Artimedi/Schwarte from Missouri. Junior Elza Tomase earned her 65th career singles win against Kelly Keller in a 5-7, 7-6 (5), 10-3 affair.

A Peek at the Charts:

On March 5, the ITA updated its team and individual rankings. Below are each team's ranked singles and doubles players:

Tennessee

Singles

Sofia Cabezas No. 27

Catherine Aulia No. 121

Doubles

Sofia Cabezas/Esther Adeshina No. 23

Esther Adeshina/Alana Wolfberg No. 51

Sofia Cabezas/Elza Tomase No. 57

Alana Wolfberg/Catherine Aulia No. 77

South Carolina

Singles

Ayana Akli No. 8

Sarah Hamner No. 10

Sharhar Biran No. 125

Doubles

Ayana Akli/Olympe Lancelotm No. 30

Sarah Hamner/Ayana Akli No. 41

Florida

Singles

Rachel Gailis No. 45

Emily De Oliveira No. 52

Carly Briggs No. 79

Sara Dahlstrom No. 80

Scouting the Gamecocks:

The Lady Vols will face South Carolina for the 51st time in program history. Tennessee leads the series, 28-23, with 15 of those wins coming in Knoxville. The two squads met last season in Knoxville, when the Lady Vols defeated the Gators, 4-1, on April 9, 2023. The Gamecocks currently hold an 8-3 overall record and are 0-2 in SEC affairs.

Scouting the Gators:

Florida leads the all-time series, 47-2, against the Lady Vols. Both of Tennessee's wins have come on Rocky Top. The last time the two teams met was last season in Knoxville when Tennessee swept Florida, 4-0, on April 21, 2023. The Gators sit at a 5-6 overall record and a 1-1 record thus far in the season.

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