University of Tennessee Athletics
Women’s Tennis Central: Knoxville Regional
May 03, 2024 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee women's tennis team is gearing up to host the 2024 NCAA Team Championship First and Second Rounds for the second consecutive year. The matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday at Barksdale Stadium.
The Lady Volunteers (18-7, 9-4) have posted 18 wins on the season for the fourth time during head coach Alison Ojeda's tenure. This is also the second time one of her squads has produced nine or more conference victories. The Big Orange has collected nine ranked wins and swept 10 opponents thus far in 2024.
The Knoxville regional showcases No. 16 Tennessee, No. 21 Duke, Murray State and No. 65 ETSU.
Tickets for the championship can be found HERE and are $5 for entrance to all matches for the day. Parking is available at the G-17 parking garage off Terrace and Lake Ave.
Live streaming of the action can be found on Playsight by clicking HERE. Live stats for the event can be located HERE.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Saturday, May 4
Match 1 – Duke vs. ETSU – 10 a.m. ET
Match 2 – Tennessee vs. Murray State – 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, May 5
Match 3 – Winner of Match 1 vs. Winner of Match 2 – 1 p.m. ET
SCOUTING THE RACERS
Murray State (17-5, 8-0 MVC) enters the tournament on a fantastic run, having won 10 consecutive matches. The Racers went undefeated in conference play and breezed through their league tournament, dominating both of their matches by a combined score of 8-2.
The team was well-represented on the end-of-season MVC awards as head coach Jorge Caetano was named MVC Coach of the Year. Marit Kreugel received First Team All-Conference plaudits after going undefeated in conference play and finishing the season with a record of 12-1. Two singles players earned Second Team All-Conference recognition in Emma Honore and Natalie Slezakova. Additionally, Honore and Alezakova were First Team All-Time Doubles selectees, along with the duo of Campigotto and Kreugel.
The Lady Vols have never lost against the Racers, leading Murray State in the all-time series, 4-0, with two of those victories in Knoxville. The last time the two squads met was on Jan. 25, 2015. The Big Orange notched a 5-2 win against the Racers. The two programs have met one time before in the postseason, on May 10, 2003, in Knoxville. The Lady Vols etched a 4-0 sweep against Murray State in the first round of the NCAA Team Championship.
REGIONAL HISTORY
Tennessee has hosted nine regionals in program history, with 2024 marking the second straight year the Lady Vols have garnered a spot to host. This is the fourth time Tennessee has hosted the opening rounds in back-to-back years, alongside 2001-2002, 2002-2003 and 2009-2010. The Lady Volunteers last advanced beyond the First and Second Rounds in 2010. This season also marks the second time the Lady Vols are hosting a regional in the Alison Ojeda era. UT has made the tournament every single season since she was named the head coach prior to the 2017 dual season.
CHECK-IN ON THE RANKINGS
Below are the ITA team and individual rankings for each of the four teams in the Knoxville Regional.
#16 Tennessee Lady Volunteers
Singles
#14 Sofia Cabezas
Doubles
#39 Sofia Cabezas/Esther Adeshina
#21 Duke
Singles
#63 Shavit Kimchi
#83 Emma Jackson
#93 Elizabeth Coleman
#102 Katie Codd
#110 Iuliia Bryzagalova
PUNCHING THE TICKET TO STILLWATER
Two Lady Vols were selected to compete in the 2024 NCAA Singles Championships, happening later this month in Stillwater, Okla., at the Greenwood Tennis Center. Sofia Cabezas and Elza Tomase will begin play following the finish of the NCAA Team Championship the final weekend of May. Cabezas is seeded No. 9-16, clinching ITA All-America status.
FAN CENTRAL
All matches are scheduled to be played outdoors at Barksdale Stadium. Tickets for the weekend can be found HERE.
The clear bag policy will be enforced throughout the duration of the weekend. To view the clear bag policy click HERE.
Gates for all three matches at the Knoxville Regional will open one hour prior to first serve.
Free spectator parking will be provided in the G-17 parking garage off Terrace and Lake Ave.
For all the latest information from Lady Vol Tennis, follow the team on Twitter/X @Vol_WTennis, Instagram @vol_wtennis or Facebook.
