University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Western Kentucky
Lady Vols Sweep First Doubleheader of Weekend
January 24, 2015 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Lady Vols finished their first doubleheader of the weekend with victories over Murray State and Western Kentucky to begin the season 2-0.
The team was able to get the early advantage in both matches by winning the doubles point. Tennessee was 4-0 in doubles and was leading in the two matches that went unfinished on Saturday.
"We are better, and we have improved in a year," co-head coach Mike Patrick said on his team's play in doubles. "We aren't exactly where we want to be yet, but we are getting close."
Sophomores Eve Repic and Laurence Guevremont are on a five game win streak after defeating Eleonore Tchakarova and Verginie Tchakarova from Murray State 6-1 and Western Kentucky's Tereza Hejlova and Eldipa Malamou 6-4. The streak is a career best for the duo.
In singles, it was senior Joanna Henderson who led the way for the Lady Vols. At the No. 1 spot in the lineup, she went 2-0 to extend a win streak of her own, winning her last six singles matches. She defeated Murray State's Andrea Eskauriarza, who is ranked No. 124 in the ITA singles poll, 6-2, 6-3, her third win of the year over a ranked opponent, and she beat Emilia Granstrom of Western Kentucky 6-2, 6-1.
"As a team, I think we did a good job of coming out strong," Henderson said about today's matches. "We won the doubles point in the first match, and that set the tone for the whole day. We just need to build off today. In singles, I felt like I was playing confidently. The matches last week really helped me. I could see that in Eve as well."
It wasn't a breeze, though, as the Lady Vols swept their opponents. Sophomore Victoria Olivarez and junior Tiffany Tavares both won quality matches to help seal the deal.
Tavares bounced back in her second match on the day after losing 6-4, 6-2 to Verginie Tchakarova from Murray State in the first match. After jumping out to 6-2 lead against Western Kentucky's Gabby Crofford, Tavares' momentum carried her to a victory in the second set and allowed her to clinch the second match on the day for the Lady Vols.
Olivarez grinded out two close matches on the day to go 2-0. In her second match, Olivarez came from behind to defeat Elpida Malamou from Western Kentucky 6-7 (3), 6-0, 1-0 (13). The Lady Vols had already clinched the match by the time Olivarez finished in both of her matches, but she never gave up and will use this momentum to carry her forward through the season.
"For me, I got to understand the meaning of competing when we got to play in the Furman Fall Classic tournament," Olivarez said on her mindset for the day. "Ever since then, it has been a priority for me, and a priority for the team in general, to just gut things, compete as hard as you can, run after every ball and give your effort. That was my mindset today."
"I think we did a good job," Patrick said about his team's overall performance. "Everyone stayed focus. We didn't execute great in a couple of spots today, but we had a couple of players play really well. I thought Joanna and Eve played great in the second match. They played confident. Tiffany was able to come back from a loss this morning to get a win. Overall, it was a good first day but also a sad day. [Brittany Lindl] was injured, and we are hoping it isn't anything bad. That is what we are worried about right now."
Lindl went down with a knee injury during the first set of her singles match this morning against Murray State.
The Lady Vols will be back in action tomorrow as they take on Middle Tennessee State at 10 a.m. and Mercer at 3 p.m. to finish up their opening weekend.
Tennessee 5, Murray State 2
Singles
1. Joanna Henderson, UT, def. No. 124 Andrea Eskauriarza, Murray State, 6-2, 6-3
2. Eve Repic, UT, def. Eleonore Tchakarova, Murray State, 6-4, 6-3
3. Victoria Olivarez, UT, def. Megan Blue, Murray State, 7-6 (8), 6-2
4. Laurence Guevremont, UT, def. Alena Vasileva, Murray State, 6-1, 6-2
5. No. 106 Nancy Karaky, Murray State, def. Brittany Lindl, UT, 1-0 (retired)
6. Verginie Tchakarova, Murray State, def. Tiffany Tavares, UT, 6-4, 6-2
Doubles
1. No. 29 Henderson/Williams, UT, vs. Eskauriatza/Patton, Murray State, 5-3 unf.
2. Repic/Guevremont, UT, def. E. Tchakarova/V. Tchakarova, Murray State, 6-1
3. Olivarez/Lindl, UT, def. Blue/Karaky, Murray State, 6-1
Order of Finish Doubles (3, 2); Singles (5, 1, 6, 4, 2, 3)
Tennessee 5, Western Kentucky 2
Singles
1. Joanna Henderson, UT, def. Emilia Granstrom, WKU, 6-2, 6-1
2. Eve Repic, UT, def. Tereza Hejlova, WKU, 6-1, 6-2
3. Andrea Christopoulou, WKU, def. Laurence Guevremont, UT, 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (7)
4. Victoria Olivarez, UT, def. Elpida Malamou, WKU, 6-7 (3), 6-0, 1-0 (13)
5. Tiffany Tavares, UT, def. Gabby Crofford, WKU, 6-2, 7-6 (3)
6. Match forfeited by Tennessee
Doubles
1. No. 29 Henderson/Williams, UT, vs. Granstrom/Christopoulou, WKU, 4-3 unf.
2. Repic/Guevremont, UT, def. Hejlova/Malamou, WKU, 6-4
3. Olivarez/Tavares, UT, def. Crofford/Przystawski, WKU, 6-2
Order of Finish Doubles (3, 2); Singles (6, 1, 2, 5, 4, 3)
Players Mentioned
