WACO, Texas – Catherine Aulia and Elza Tomase of the Tennessee women’s tennis team both surpassed their first-round opponent in the 2024 NCAA Singles Championships on Tuesday afternoon at Hurd Tennis Center. Aulia and Tomase are the 11th and 12th Lady Vols to advance to the Round of 32 in program history.
This marks the second time in program history that Tennessee will have two players compete in the second round of the event in the same year. The other occasion was in 2003 when top-seeded Vilmarie Castellvi and Tammy Encina accomplished the feat.
Fourth-seeded Tomase wasted no time getting settled in, as she blazed past Syracuse’s Serafima Shastova in a 6-3, 6-1 triumph. Tomase took a 4-0 lead in the first set and never looked back. The senior is set to face Gracie Epps (Oklahoma State) or Merna Refaat (Auburn) next.
“Elza did a good job playing her game today,” head coach Alison Ojeda said. “As the match went on she just got better and better.”
Aulia took control against third-seeded Maria Sholokhova from Wisconsin and etched a 6-3, 7-5 ledger. The junior got out to a 3-0 lead and found success from the service line. The Roseberry, Australia, native is the first-ever Lady Vol to beat a seeded opponent in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Aulia will now face the winner of the match between Carson Tanguilig (North Carolina) and Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo (Texas).
“Matias Marin and I both just told Cat how much of a joy it is to coach her,” Ojeda exclaimed. “She’s not only coachable from a tactical standpoint, but she just competes for every single point. Her opponent is a very good player. Matias Marin spent time scouting her and had a very clear plan for Cat, which she executed from start to finish. Cat also maintained an impressive level of emotional maturity even when she was down 1-4 in the second set. We are excited for another day!”
NCAA Doubles Championship action kicks off on Wednesday, as the pair is set to square off with Duke’s Irina Balus and Elizabeth Coleman in the Round of 32. The time of the match is to be announced.
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Results:
#4 Elza Tomase def. Serafima Shastova (Syracuse) 6-3, 6-1
Catherine Aulia def. #3 Maria Sholkhova (Wisconsin) 6-3, 7-5
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