Adeshina’s Stellar Singles Not Enough as #12 Lady Vols Fall to #4 Georgia, 4-1

ATHENS, Ga. – For the first time in SEC play the 12th-ranked Tennessee women’s tennis team dropped a match, coming short of No. 4 Georgia, 4-1, on the road at Magill Tennis Complex.

Tennessee (13-3, 6-1 SEC) fought hard throughout the match, both in singles and doubles, but fell behind early and was unable to overcome early deficits.

“Tonight was a tough one,” head coach Alison Ojeda said. “We lost to a very good team and learned a lot about ourselves. In some spots, we learned that we are darn good and in other areas we learned how we can improve. Now, we have to use the rest of this weekend to rest and recover before getting back on the court and preparing for another tough team in Texas A&M.”

Esther Adeshina was a significant bright spot on the day for the Lady Volunteers, absolutely dominating her singles match on Court 6, 6-0, 6-3, against Guillermina Grant.

She and Rebeka Mertena also got the Big Orange off to a strong start in doubles, taking down Ania Hertel and Dasha Vidmanova, 6-3, on the top court. The two started the match white hot, running the score up to 5-0 in the single-set action. As Georgia started to turn the tide of doubles, culminating with an eventual come-from-behind win on Court 3, the pair hung on and closed out the match.

Lauren Anzalotta also had a nice day of singles. Although her match went unfinished, she and Meg Kowalski battled for every single point on Court 5. The margins were razor thin in the first set, though Anzalotta fell in a tiebreaker, 11-9, and the second set showed 4-4 on the scoreboard when the match was clinched.

UP NEXT: Tennessee has the rest of the weekend off before continuing its road stretch in College Station, Texas, where the Lady Vols will take on Texas A&M on Friday, March 30, at 6 p.m. ET.

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

#4 Georgia 4, #12 Tennessee 1

Singles

1. #8 Lea Ma (UGA) def. #34 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) 6-2, 6-2

2. #10 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) def. #49 Elza Tomase (TENN) 6-0, 6-1

3. #60 Mell Reasco (UGA) def. #39 Daria Kuczer (TENN) 7-5, 6-4

4. #57 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) vs. Catherine Aulia (TENN) 6-4, 4-6, 1-1, unfinished

5. Meg Kowalski (UGA) vs. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) 7-6 (11-9), 4-4, unfinished

6. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Guillermina Grant (UGA) 6-0, 6-3

Doubles

1. #39 Rebeka Mertena/Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Ania Hertel/Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) 6-3

2. #31 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) def. Catherine Aulia/Eleonora Molinaro (TENN)…