Lady Vols Sweep Friday Matches Against Charlotte and Bellarmine

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Kicking off its final weekend of non-conference play with a bang, the 24th-ranked Tennessee women’s tennis team defeated Charlotte, 4-2, and Bellarmine, 4-0, at Goodfriend Tennis Center Friday.

It was a strong day all around for the Lady Volunteers (6-2) as the Big Orange claimed the doubles point in both matches, and did so in dominating fashion against Bellarmine (3-9), earning 6-0 victories on Court 1 and Court 3 courtesy of Rebeka Mertena/Esther Adeshina and Lauren Anzalotta/Elza Tomase.

Singles was a collective effort, as between the two matches, six different Lady Vols earned Tennessee a point.

Mertena was dominant yet again on Court 1 against Charlotte in singles play. She faced up Ruxi Schech and downed the 49ers No. 1 in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4. Then, just a court over, Tomase made it 3-1 as she knocked off Lucia Quiterio in a second-set tiebreaker, 7-6(2), after winning the first frame 6-4. Down the stretch, Charlotte looked to get back into the match, but that rally was quickly thwarted by Adeshina who used her patented slice-and-dice style to carve Emma Wilkins up in the third set, taking the match and clinching the victory, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2.

During the second competition of the day, it was dominance on display from the Big Orange. The first win came for Eleonora Molinaro on Court 3, as her opponent retired due to injury. Leyla Britez Risso was on fire on Court 5, earning her first career singles victory 6-0, 6-2 over Hanley Riner. The clinch came on Court 4 as Lauren Anzalotta bounced back against Shu Grosso, securing the win for Tennessee with a 6-2, 6-2 victory.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will be back in action Sunday as it takes on No. 19 UCF for a ranked showdown at Noon ET at Barksdale Stadium (weather permitting). Admission to the match is free.

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

Match 1: #24 Tennessee 4, Charlotte 2

Singles

1. #24 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. Schech,Ruxi (CLT) 6-4, 6-4

2. #65 Elza Tomase (TENN) def. Quiterio,Lucia (CLT) 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)

3. #38 Daria Kuczer (TENN) vs. Maquet,Margaux (CLT) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 0-1, unfinished

4. Petruzelova,Lucie (CLT) def. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4

5. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Wilkins,Emma (CLT) 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-2

6. Sawhney,Kaavya (CLT) def. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) 6-3, 6-4

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

Doubles

1. Rebeka Mertena/Esther Adeshina (TENN) vs. Maquet,Margaux/Quiterio,Lucia (CLT) 5-4, unfinished

2. Daria…