“We knew we were going to have to play well and compete hard today, and that’s exactly what our team did,” head coach Alison Ojeda said. “Eleonora Molinaro did a very good job playing a complete match and Lauren Anzalotta did a great job managing per performance from start to finish. Rebeka Mertena played with a determination to end points from the midcourt area. All those were great things to see.”
Tennessee (1-0) claimed the doubles point on the back of a big start from Anzalotta and Elza Tomase on Court 3. The pairing bested Nevena Carton/Whitley Pate, 6-1, and provided a jolt of momentum on the other two courts in action. That energy was picked up by Molinaro and Daria Kuczer on the next court over, as the duo capitalized and polished off a 6-2 win.
In singles, it started as a battle, but as the Lady Vols made their runs, it came in bunches.
Molinaro was the first to step on the gas, finishing both the first set and the match the quickest in a 6-2, 6-3, decision over Carton. Anzalotta, playing on the court next to her, found the throttle shortly thereafter, topping Jingyi Li, 6-3, 6-1, for her first Division I victory in singles play.
On Court 1, No. 76 Mertena finished the job, defeating No.27 Casie Wooten, 6-2, 6-3, for the clinch and finishing off the first victory of the season.
“We now face a very good team who is going to come after us from start to finish,” Ojeda continued. “We can win tomorrow, but we are going to need to compete with a level of maturity and belief in all nine spots.”
Full scores from Friday’s season opener can be found below.
UP NEXT
The Lady Volunteers face the host, and top seed in the regional, Ohio State at 4 p.m. ET at the Ty Tucker Tennis Center. The winner punches their ticket to the ITA Indoor National Championship in Seattle, Washington, in two weeks.
#22 Tennessee 4, Wake Forest 0
Singles
1. #76 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. #27 Casie Wooten (WF) 6-2, 6-3
2. Anna Brylin (WF) vs. #68 Elza Tomase (TENN) 6-3, 4-2, unfinished
3. Brooke Killingsworth (WF) vs. #55 Daria Kuczer (TENN) 5-7, 0-1, unfinished
4. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. Nevena Carton (WF) 6-2, 6-3
5. Whitley Pate (WF) vs. Esther Adeshina (TENN) 6-3, 2-6, 0-3, unfinished
6. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) def….
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Tennessee Athletics…