KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 22 Tennessee Women’s tennis team fell, 4-1, to No. 8 Georgia on Sunday afternoon at Barksdale Stadium. The match started as a back-and-forth contest with the Lady Vols locking up the doubles point before the Bulldogs collected four singles victories.
“We have to change something,” eighth-year head coach Alison Ojeda remarked. “There are only so many times you can knock on a door before a team has to decide that they are willing to step through it. These guys aren’t willing to step through it at the moment. I know we won the doubles point, but even in doubles we just aren’t there. We step on the gas and do all the right things and then them all of a sudden we let up. That can sum up nine spots, the six singles and the three doubles. We cannot afford to let up on the gas with anyone especially these teams that we are playing against.”
Tennessee (11-6, 3-4 SEC) claimed doubles wins on courts one and three against Georgia (12-3, 7-0 SEC). Lauren Anzalotta and Catherine Aulia were the first pair to win, notching a 6-3 victory against Alexandra Vecic and Mell Raesco. The No. 49-ranked duo of Esther Adeshina and Alana Wolfberg dropped their match to the No. 16-ranked pair Aysegul Mert and Dasha Vidmanova in a 4-6 affair.
The doubles point came down to court one. The No. 21-ranked team of Sofia Cabezas and Elza Tomase clinched the first point of the match with a 7-5 triumph against the No. 35-ranked Guillermina Grant and Mai Nirundorm.
After the Lady Vols claimed the doubles advantage, the team could not overcome a strong singles performance from the Bulldogs. Wolfberg fell to No. 75 Mell Reasco in a 2-6, 3-6 defeat. Anzalotta dropped her contest against No. 91 Mai Nirundorn, 2-6, 2-6. Tomase dropped a 4-6, 7-6 (3) battle against No. 30 Alexandra Vecic. Adeshina capped off the match with a 5-7, 7-5, 1-6 defeat against Guillermina Grant.
NEXT UP:
The Lady Vols will hit the road to face Auburn on Friday at Yarbrough Tennis Center with first serve slated for 3 p.m. ET.
Match Notables:
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Tennessee secured the doubles point for the 14th time this season.
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Junior Elza Tomase earned her 45th career doubles win.
Results:
Singles
1. #17 Sofia Cabezas (TENN) vs. #24 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) 5-7, 5-6, unfinished
2. #30 Alexandra Vecic (UGA) def. Elza Tomase (TENN) 6-4, 7-6 (7-3)
3. #75 Mell Reasco (UGA) def. Alana Wolfberg (TENN) 6-2, 6-3
4. Catherine Aulia (TENN) vs. #80 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) 3-6, 6-4, 3-3, unfinished
5. Guillermina Grant (UGA) def. Esther Adeshina (TENN) 7-5, 5-7, 5-1
6. #91 Mai Nirundorn (UGA) def. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) 6-2, 6-2
Order of Finish: (3,6,2,5)
Doubles
1. #21 Sofia Cabezas/Elza Tomase (TENN) def. #35 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) 7-5
2. #16 Aysegul Mert/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. #49 Esther Adeshina/Alana Wolfberg (TENN) 6-4
3. Lauren Anzalotta/Catherine Aulia (TENN) def. Alexandra Vecic/Mell Reasco (UGA) 6-3
Order of Finish: (3,2,1)
