Tennessee (19-5) came out hot early, taking the doubles point, but in a neck-and-neck battle in singles the Bulldogs pulled out the victory.
“Tough to find words to describe our feelings at the moment,” head coach Alison Ojeda said. “The best thing I can say is that our team gave ourselves a chance to play for a title tomorrow. Georgia was able to put one more ball in the court than we were, so lots of credit to them.”
The Lady Volunteers had a valiant showing in singles. Esther Adeshina was the first to put a singles point on the board for the Big Orange, overcoming a 1-5 first-set deficit to force a tiebreaker in the opening frame, which she would win 7-2. The junior then took care of business, putting away Guillermina Grant, 6-2, in the second set to take the point on Court 6.
The Bulldogs won the match with four singles victories coming on Courts 1, 2, 4 and 5. #71 Anastasiia Lopata delivered the clinch on Court 4, but was tested all match long by Eleonora Molinaro. Molinaro dropped the first set, 3-6, but came roaring back in the second to take the stanza by the same scoreline. The two were dead even after 12 games and an equally tight battle for the tiebreaker ensued. Neither player led by more than two in the tiebreak, but that would end up deciding the match as Lopata delivered a 10-8 victory.
Doubles play for the Lady Vols was superb. Adeshina and Rebeka Mertena did their job on Court 1, topping Dasha Vidmanova/Mell Reasco, 6-4. Molinaro and Daria Kuczer clinched the opening point on Court 3, dropping Meg Kowalski/Lea Ma 6-3.
Full results from Saturday’s match can be found below.
#4 Georgia 4, #15 Tennessee 2
Singles
1. #3 Lea Ma (UGA) def. #26 Elza Tomase (TENN) 6-3, 6-2
2. #6 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. #27 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) 6-4, 7-5
3. #66 Mell Reasco (UGA) vs. #46 Daria Kuczer (TENN) 1-6, 6-4, 5-5, unfinished
4. #71 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) def. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (10-8)
5. Meg Kowalski (UGA) def. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
6. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Guillermina Grant (UGA) 7-6 (7-2), 6-2
Order of finish: 1,6,5,2,4
Doubles
1. #40 Esther Adeshina/Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. Dasha Vidmanova/Mell Reasco (UGA) 6-4
2. #35 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) vs. Catherine Aulia/
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