Molinaro Heroic Again as #16 Lady Vols best #17 Vandy, 4-3

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eleonora Molinaro played the hero yet again as the No. 16 Tennessee women’s tennis team took down No. 17 Vanderbilt, 4-3, on the road at Currey Tennis Center Friday afternoon.

For the second time in the last four matches, Molinaro came through in the clutch for the Lady Volunteers (10-2, 3-0 SEC). After falling down a set early, the junior battled back to take the second frame, 6-3. Her and #113 Anessa Lee went back-and-forth in the third stanza, trading holds and breaks alike before reaching a tiebreaker. Molinaro took an early lead in the winner-take-all game, jumping out to a 5-1 advantage, but Lee was determined to fight, bringing the score back to 5-6 with serve.

Molinaro stared down the Vanderbilt No. 5 and returned shot after shot, working the net and the lob to keep her off-balance. The winner came at the net when Molinaro flicked a backhand down the line, landing on the stripe and fluttering to the back wall, resulting in a Tennessee victory.

The match marked the second-straight contest the Lady Vols came back to win despite losing the doubles point. Vandy secured the opening point with wins on Court 1 and Court 2.

Elza Tomase continued her masterful play, rolling through #80 Anna Ross, 6-2, 6-3, on Court 2. She was the second Lady Vol to claim a point as Esther Adeshina got Tennessee on the board first on Court 6, dropping Amy Stevens, 6-4, 6-1.

Daria Kuczer helped supply a late jolt of energy to Molinaro, grinding through a late rally from #111 Holly Staff to take a 6-4, 6-3 victory on Court 3 as the singles matches begun winding down and the Commodores attempted to regain some momentum.

With the victory, the Lady Vols have now run their win-streak up to six matches.

Full results from Friday’s match can be found below.

UP NEXT: Tennessee travels to Kentucky to face the Wildcats at Noon ET in Lexington on Sunday.

#16 Tennessee 4, #17 Vanderbilt 3

Singles

1. #48 Celia-Belle Mohr (VANDY-W) def. #31 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-3

2. #57 Elza Tomase (TENN) def. #80 Anna Ross (VANDY-W) 6-2, 6-3

3. #37 Daria Kuczer (TENN) def. #111 Holly Staff (VANDY-W) 6-4, 6-3

4. #60 Bridget Stammel (VANDY-W) def. Catherine Aulia (TENN) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2

5. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. #113 Anessa Lee (VANDY-W) 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5)

6. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Amy Stevens (VANDY-W) 6-4, 6-1

Order of Finish: 6,2,3,4,5,1

Doubles

1. Anna Ross/Holly Staff (VANDY-W) def. #55 Rebeka Mertena/Esther Adeshina (TENN) 6-4

2….