University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Avery Bane/Tennessee Athletics
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Lady Vols Host ITA Ohio Valley Regionals
October 15, 2025 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Lady Volunteers are set to compete at home for the first time in the 2025-26 season, as they host the ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships. Qualifying competition begins tomorrow, and play will continue through Tuesday, Oct. 21. The tournament presents an opportunity for two individual players, and one doubles pairing to earn automatic qualifications to the NCAA Individual Championships in November.
The Lady Vols will send seven singles and three doubles entries to the tournament. Catherine Aulia, Leyla Britez Risso, Francesca Mattioli, Vanesa Suarez, Maeve Thornton, Elim Yan and Saray Yli-Piipari will compete in the singles field. The tandems of Aulia/Britez Risso, Suarez/Yli-Piipari and Mattioli/Thornton will both compete in doubles competition.
All Lady Vols entries have been selected for the main draw, and will therefore begin competition on Friday, Oct. 17.
ITA Regional Championships Information
Each of the 2025 ITA Men's and Women's Division I Regional Championships will have a draw size of at least 64 in the singles qualifying draw and 64 in the singles main draw. The doubles field stands at a minimum of 32 in both the qualifying and main draws.
From these fields, the two singles finalists from each region (26 total players) will qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship. Meanwhile, the doubles champion from each region (13 total entries) will qualify for the NCAA Doubles Championship. Selection criteria and acceptable draw sizes for each of the 2025 Men's and Women's Regional Championships varies by each region.
For more information about the ITA Regional Championships, click HERE. For more information on the Ohio Valley Regional in Knoxville, click HERE.
ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships – Tennessee Entries
Singles
No. 19 Catherine Aulia
No. 34 Leyla Britez Risso
No. 121 Vanesa Suarez
Francesca Mattioli
Maeve Thornton
Elim Yan
Saray Yli-Piipari
Doubles
No. 17 Catherine Aulia/Leyla Britez Risso
Francesca Mattioli/Maeve Thornton
Vanesa Suarez/Saray Yli-Piipari
The Lady Vols will send seven singles and three doubles entries to the tournament. Catherine Aulia, Leyla Britez Risso, Francesca Mattioli, Vanesa Suarez, Maeve Thornton, Elim Yan and Saray Yli-Piipari will compete in the singles field. The tandems of Aulia/Britez Risso, Suarez/Yli-Piipari and Mattioli/Thornton will both compete in doubles competition.
All Lady Vols entries have been selected for the main draw, and will therefore begin competition on Friday, Oct. 17.
ITA Regional Championships Information
Each of the 2025 ITA Men's and Women's Division I Regional Championships will have a draw size of at least 64 in the singles qualifying draw and 64 in the singles main draw. The doubles field stands at a minimum of 32 in both the qualifying and main draws.
From these fields, the two singles finalists from each region (26 total players) will qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship. Meanwhile, the doubles champion from each region (13 total entries) will qualify for the NCAA Doubles Championship. Selection criteria and acceptable draw sizes for each of the 2025 Men's and Women's Regional Championships varies by each region.
For more information about the ITA Regional Championships, click HERE. For more information on the Ohio Valley Regional in Knoxville, click HERE.
ITA Ohio Valley Regional Championships – Tennessee Entries
Singles
No. 19 Catherine Aulia
No. 34 Leyla Britez Risso
No. 121 Vanesa Suarez
Francesca Mattioli
Maeve Thornton
Elim Yan
Saray Yli-Piipari
Doubles
No. 17 Catherine Aulia/Leyla Britez Risso
Francesca Mattioli/Maeve Thornton
Vanesa Suarez/Saray Yli-Piipari
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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