Two Lady Vols Showcase Success at Billie Jean King Cup

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – It may be the offseason, but two Lady Vols are making noise on the international stage. Rising sophomore Leyla Britez Risso and incoming senior transfer Sofia Cabezas of the Tennessee women’s tennis team capitalized their strengths and shined at the Billie Jean King Cup this past week.

Risso, representing Paraguay, defeated Sydney-Nicole Clark from the Bahamas in a three-set victory (6-3, 5-7, 7-5). She then picked up her second victory over Costa Rica’s Nicole Alfaro in a 6-1 and 6-2 triumph. Risso advanced to the Group II Play-Off, partaking in a doubles match with partner Lara Escauriza. The pair came up short to Ecuador’s Camilla Romero and Valeska San Martin in a two-set defeat (3-5, 6-7). Risso rounded up singles play with a 2-1 (2-6, 6-1, 7-5) edge over SEC opponent, Georgia’s Mell Reasco.

Cabezas competed for Venezuela and left her competition scoreless. She kicked things off with a perfect 2-0 set (6-2, 6-1) over Costa Rica’s Lucia Gallegos. Cabezas continued to find success against Bahamas’s Elana Mackey when she collected another 2-0 sweep, tallying 6-0 and 6-1 wins. She followed that match up with another 6-1, 6-4 victory over Paraguay’s Lara Escauriza. Cabezas claimed her final victory against Uruguay’s Taly Licht in a 6-2, 6-3 effort.

This duo and the rest of the Lady Vols are set to kick off match play against Vanderbilt on Jan 26, 2024 at the Goodfriend Tennis Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.