2022-23 Women's Tennis Roster
Roster
Mertena, Rebeka
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Rebeka Mertena
- Class:
- Fifth Year
- Hometown:
- Liepaja, Latvia
Bio
RECORD AND HONORS
Career Singles Record: 99-60Career Doubles Record: 70-55
2023 First Team All-SEC
2023 CSC Academic All-District
SEC Player of the Week - 3/22/23, 1/29/20
2022-23 Division I ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
2023 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
2022 First Team All-SEC
2022 ITA Ohio Valley Region Senior Player of the Year
2021-22 Division I ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
2022 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
2021 ITA Ohio Valley Regional Singles Runner-Up
2021 All-SEC Second Team
2020-21 Division I ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete
2021 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
2020-21 VOLeaders Academy
2020 Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll
2020 ITA Ohio Valley Region Player to Watch
2019 ITA Ohio Valley Regional Singles Runner-Up
2019 SEC All-Freshman Team
2022-23 - FIFTH YEAR
Singles Record: 19-12Doubles Record: 16-10
SPRING SEASON (DUAL ACTION)
- Currently ranked No. 34 in the ITA Singles Rankings and 39 in the doubles ratings with Esther Adeshina.
- Named SEC Player of the Week following her terrific weekend against the Tigers and the Crimson Tide.
- Tallied another ranked doubles win, besting #58 Bencheikh/Hiser, 6-4, against Alabama (3/19).
- Fantastic against #8 Auburn (3/17), earning a ranked win in singles and doubles. She started the day by taking down #20 Ansari/Arseneault then faced off against #41 Carolyn Ansari in singles and dominated in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-4.
- Racked up her ninth doubles win in the last 10 matches against Arkansas (3/5), topping Kelly Keller in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
- Clinched the doubles point for a second straight match against Missouri (3/3), winning 6-4 over Inah and Mae Canete.
- Got a pair of massive wins against UCF (2/19), both in singles and doubles. She clinched the doubles point, 6-4, before taking down Stefani Webb in a three-set battle, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
- Had a spotless day against Charlotte and Bellarmine (2/19), claiming No. 1 singles, 6-4, 6-4, over Ruxi Schech of Charlotte before blanking Bellarmine's No. 1 doubles, 6-0, with Adeshina.
- Bested Shnaider/Smith in doubles at NC State (2/5), 6-3, with Esther Adeshina to cap the road trip.
- Got the win at No. 1 on the road at Furman (2/3), taking down Ellie Schulson, 6-2, 6-1.
- Masterful in the doubleheader against Western Carolina (2/1), posting an aggregate game score on the day of 36-3. She won both doubles matches with Esther Adeshina, 6-0, and collected a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Isabella Sambola before topping Leilany Ipunesso 6-1, 6-1.
- Opened the season with two top-30 singles wins at ITA Kickoff Weekend, breezing past #27 Casie Wooten against Wake Forest (1/27), 6-2, 6-3. She then defeated #15 Sydni Ratliff for the second time in two weeks against Ohio State (1/28). 7-6(6), 6-2.
- Faced 11 ranked opponents in singles during the fall.
- Earned a top-15 victory at the Michigan Invitational in early January, downing #15 Sydni Ratliff, 6-4, 6-0, in her first singles match of the tournament.
- Captured a straight-set victory over No. 8 Georgia Drummy, 7-5, 7-5, at the All-American Championships in the Round of 16, her first career top-10 win.
- Qualified for the ITA All-American Championship in singles in doubles, earning a doubles win over No. 43 Miyamoto/Novak of Oklahoma State, and advancing to the quarterfinals of singles with a pair of ranked victories
- Accumulated a 4-1 record with Lauren Anzalotta during the ITA Ohio Valley Regional and the Tennessee Fall Invitational.
- Opened the fall with the No. 10 doubles ranking with Esther Adeshina and the No. 27 singles ranking.
2021-22 - SENIOR
Singles Record: 23-17Doubles Record: 19-12
SPRING SEASON (DUAL ACTION)
- Finished her senior year ranked No. 39 in singles and No. 23 in doubles with Esther Adeshina.
- Qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship and battled hard, but fell to #7 Eryn Cayetano from USC, 1-6, 7-6(0), 3-6 in the first round.
- Helped the Lady Vols take the doubles point in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at NC State (5/8), downing top-ranked, and eventual NCAA Doubles Champion, Daniel/Miller, 6-3, with Adeshina in her final doubles match of the year.
- Made her second consecutive All-SEC team, taking home First Team recognition in 2022.
- Avenged a loss just four matches ago to #35 Selin Ovunc of Auburn (4/22), clinching the match with a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory in singles after defeating #9 Ovunc/Arseneault in doubles, 6-3, with Adeshina for her first career top-10 doubles win in singles or doubles.
- Nabbed a ranked victory in the first round of the SEC Tournament against Alabama (4/21), defeating #83 Loudmilla Bencheikh, 6-4, 6-4, on Court 1 and clinching the match for the Lady Vols
- Got a doubles victory in the season-finale, taking down the sisters team of Kasia and Ola Pitak, 6-2, at Alabama (4/17)
- Clinched the victory over Kentucky (4/10), claiming a 6-3, 6-4 victory on Court 1 over Florencia Urrutia and a 6-3 win on Court 2 in doubles over Girbau/Gonzalez
- Kept her strong stretch of doubles going with a 7-5 win over Kourkina/Rompf of Vanderbilt (4/8) for her 15th doubles victory of the season
- Logged her third-consecutive doubles victory at Missouri (4/3), downing Schwarte/Ventura 6-4 with Adeshina
- Delivered a clutch, match-clinching win at Arkansas (4/1) over Tatum Rice, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4, in a 4-3 victory over the Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Ark. after grabbing a 6-3 doubles victory to help UT claim the doubles point
- Tallied her second ranked singles victory of the weekend against #70 Safiya Carrington of LSU (3/27), 4-6, 6-3, (10-1)
- Turned in an incredible day against Texas A&M (3/25), scoring a pair of ranked victories, starting with a 6-1 dub over #48 Branstine/Stoiana in doubles with Adeshina, followed by a 6-2, 6-4 win vs. #23 Carson Branstine on Court 1 in singles
- Kicked off SEC play with a ranked singles victory and a doubles win vs. Mississippi State (3/4), she bested #69 Emma Antonaki, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3, in singles and nabbed a 6-1 win on Court 3 in doubles with Molinaro.
- Picked up a doubles victory against Indiana (2/19) with Eleonora Molinaro, 6-1, on court 3. It was the first time Mertena and Molinaro played together as a pair in the 2021-22 season
- Grabbed a doubles win with Elza Tomase at ITA Kickoff Weekend in Columbus against #21 LSU (1/29), defeating Cubitt and Geissler, 6-0
- After going down 3-0, Mertena stormed back against Wake Forest's Smantha Martinelli (1/23) on court 2 to win, 6-3, 6-3
- Kicked off the 2022 dual season with a victory over Ruxi Schech at Charlotte (1/21), 6-3, 6-1
- Opened the 2022 spring season with the highest singles ranking of her career - No. 14
- Named to the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll and a 2021-22 Division I ITA All-Academic Scholar-Athlete.
FALL SEASON (INDIVIDUAL ACTION)
- Crowned doubles champion at the Tar Heel Invitational (1/7-9) with Elza Tomase after going 2-0 on the weekend.
- Competed at the ITA Fall National Championship in San Diego, California. Won her first match over No. 38 Thasaporn Naklo from Iowa State in singles draw
- Was a finalist at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional in singles.
- Qualified for the main draw singles at the ITA All-American Championship in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. and won her first match against Victoria Hu (Princeton)
- Competed in 10 doubles matches with fellow countrywoman Elza Tomase, the pair finished the year with three victories at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional before falling in the quarterfinals
- Went 3-3 against ranked foes in singles and only played three 3-set matches all fall, winning each one
- Finished the fall ranked No. 14 in singles after starting the campaign No. 55
2020-21 - JUNIOR
Singles Record: 15-15Doubles Record: 11-16
FALL SEASON
- Won three solo matches in the fall
- Won a pair of doubles matches with Kylie Duckworth and one doubles match with Johanna Silva
- Was selected to participate in the prestigious VOLeaders Academy, a year-long student-athlete leadership curriculum that culminated with a summer service trip to Belize.
- Won one singles match in the Duke Winter Classic
- Won two singles matches and one doubles match with Julie Ball in double header with UT Martin
- Earned a singles and doubles win with Julie Ball in dual against Furman
- Won one singles match in ITA Kickoff Weekend
- Defeated Brooke Killingsworth in a three-set bout on court two to clinch the win over No. 16 Wake Forest
- Earned a 6-3 win over NC State's Amelia Rajecki and Lana Mavor with partner Carly Briggs on court three.
- Won both her singles and doubles matches agaisnt ETSU.
- Downed Mississippi State's Alexandra Mikhailuk 6-2, 6-3 on court three.
- Clinched the doubles point against Florida with partner Eleonora Molinaro on court three.
- Defeated LSU's Paris Corley on court three 7-5, 6-4.
- Picked up a 6-1, 6-3 win over Emma Kurtz of Vanderbilt.
- Earned a ranked-win over No. 62-ranked Selin Ovunc of Auburn on court one.
- Collected a doubles win on court three with Carly Briggs against Mississippi State to open the SEC Tournament.
- Picked up a doubles win and downed No. 110 Safiya Carrington in three sets against LSU.
- Opened NCAA Tournament with a doubles win on court three with Carly Briggs against JMU.
2019-20 - SOPHOMORE
Singles Record: 22-11Doubles Record: 5-11
FALL SEASON
- Downed Clemson’s No. 94-ranked Mackenzy Middlebrooks at the Debbie Southern Fall Classic to earn her first win of her sophomore season. Downed Meyer/Cruz of Vanderbilt with partner Johanna Silva.
- Earned three singles wins, two over ranked opponents, at the USTA Fall ranked spotlight. Downed NC State’s No. 84-ranked Adriana Reami 7-5, 7-6 (2). Defeated No. 67-ranked Bunyawi Thamchaiwat of Ohio State 6-3, ret..
- Grabbed three singles wins at the ITA All-American Championships.
- Won five-straight matches at the ITA Ohio Valley Regional in straight sets to reach the main draw final. Was defeated by No. 89-ranked teammate Kaitlin Staines but still advanced to the ITA Fall National Championships.
- Collected an 8-1 singles dual-match record in the spring.
- Opened 2020 going undefeated in singles and doubles in UT’s doubleheader against North Alabama. Downed Linke/Going with partner Hadley Doyle on court two bfore defeating Linke in singles 6-0, 6-0. Paired with Doyle again, this time on court one, they defeated Going/ Flesch 6-0. She closed the day with a win over Payton Andrews on court two 6-0, 6-1.
- Earned a pair of ranked singles wins at the Michigan Invitational. Defeated TCU’s No. 81-ranked Mercedes Aristegui in straight sets. Downed the Wolverines’ No. 85-ranked Andrea Cerdan 7-5, 6-2.
- Grabbed a pair of singles wins at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Defeated Kansas’ Malkia Ngounoue on court two 6-3, 6-2. Earned a ranked-win over Virginia’s No 35-ranked Rosie Johanson 6-1, 6-3 on court two.
- Earned SEC Player of the Week Honors for her efforts against North Alabama and in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
- Downed Purdue’s Alex Sabe in straight sets on court two.
- Paired with Johanna Silva, defeated Staiculescu/Bernard of Indiana 6-1 on court two.
- Downed Cincinnati’s Niehaus/Philp 6-2 on court two with partner Johanna Silva.
- Earned her first career win on court one over UT Chattanooga’s Jessie Young 6-0, 6-3.
- Collected her first SEC win of the year over Mississippi State’s Tamara Racine on court one 7-5, 6-3.
- Downed Ole Miss’ No. 50-ranked Sabina Machalova in a three-set tilt 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in UT’s come-from-behind victory.
2018-19 - FRESHMAN
Singles Record: 20-5Doubles Record: 19-6
SPRING SEASON
- At the No. 3 doubles spot against NC State in the second round of NCAA Tournament, won her doubles match in the competition against Adriana Reami and Claudia Wiktorin, 6-4.
- Finished the season with a team-leading 18 dual match singles wins, inclusing nine during SEC play.
- With Johanna Silva, won a team-leading 10 SEC doubles matches.
- Won six straight singles matches from March 23-April 12, all at the No. 4 singles spot.
- Spanning from a March 31 win over Alabama all the way to the regular season finale against No. 24 Kentucky, won five straight doubles matches partnered with Johanna Silva.
- Clinched the doubles point for the Lady Vols against No. 39 Alabama, partnering with Johanna Silva to defeat Moka Ito and Luca Fabian, 6-3.
- Registered her first ranked singles win since arriving at Tennessee in January, defeating Auburn’s No. 113 Alannah Griffin in two quick sets, 6-2, 6-1.
- Recorded another singles victory during Tennessee’s win over Alabama, defeating Jacqueline Pelletier at the No. 4 singles spot, 6-2, 6-0.
- Clinched the doubles point against Ole Miss with a 6-2 win over Tereza Janatova and Cameron Kriscunas.
- Helped Tennessee defeat Mississippi State with a 6-0, 6-4 win on court four over Tamara Racine.
- Defeated South Carolina's Megan Davies at the No. 4 singles spot during Tennessee's match against the Gamecocks, 6-4, 6-2.
- Registered Tennessee's first singles win of the match against No. 15 LSU, taking down Kennan Johnson at the No. 4 singles spot, 6-2, 6-2.
- Defeated Texas A&M's Renee McBryde in three sets, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-3, to clinch the Lady Vols' win over the No. 21 Aggies. Also clinched the doubles point for Tennessee with a 7-6 (0) win over Riley McQuaid and Lucia Quiterio.
- Won three singles matches in a two-day span against Purdue, UT Martin and ETSU. Defeated Purdue's Amina Mukhametshina (6-2, 6-0), UT Martin's Daphne Pratt (6-2, 6-2) and ETSU's Raquel Amaro (6-1, 6-2).
- Captured a pair of 6-0 doubles wins during Tennessee's doubleheader against UT Martin and ETSU at the No. 3 spot.
- Clinched Tennessee's match against South Florida with a 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Amelie Boy at the No. 4 singles spot.
- Defeating Old Dominion's Brooke Pilkington, 7-6, 6-2, at the No. 5 singles spot.
- Helped Tennessee upset No. 15 Florida State by defeating Ariana Rahmanparast, 6-3, 6-2 in the No. 5 singles spot.
- Posted 2-1 records in singles and double at the Michigan Invitational, capturing wins paired with Kylie Duckworth (6-4) and Tenika McGiffin (6-3).
- In her Tennessee debut, won two singles matches and two doubles matches against North Alabama on Jan. 14. Partnered with fellow freshman Maia Haumuller in doubles for a pair of 6-1 wins and won two matches on Court 4 by scores of 6-3, 6-4 and 6-3, 7-5.
- Arrived at Tennessee in January just before the start of the spring season, along with Maia Haumuller.
PRIOR TO TENNESSEE
- Claimed three ITF Juniors singles titles in 2017, each of those as the top seed
- Won the Grade 4 U-18 Tallink Cup in Estonia in July of 2018
- Took home the trophy in the fall of 2018 at the Grade 5 Siaulai Mayor's Cup in Lithuania and the Grade 5 Venden Cup Liepaja.
- Won two Latvian Olympiad singles titles, taking the U-14 championship in 2013 and the adult crown in 2016.
- Named the Liepaja City Sport's Athlete of the Year in 2016
PERSONAL
- Born October 26, 1999
- Recipient of the Cheryl Massingale Athletic Endowed Scholarship
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