University of Tennessee Athletics
Friday, January 25
Tallahassee, Fla.
4:00 PM
University of Tennessee
4
at
3
Florida State
Photo by: Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Defeat No. 15 Florida State, Advance to ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship
January 25, 2019 | Women's Tennis
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Tennessee women's tennis team began ITA Kick-Off Weekend with a win over a ranked opponent, knocking off No. 15 Florida State Friday evening, 4-3.
With the win, Tennessee (3-0) advances to face LSU (2-0) in tomorrow's ITA Kick-Off Weekend Tallahassee Regional championship match at 4 p.m. LSU defeated Clemson prior to Tennessee's match against Florida State Friday, 4-0.
"I thought both teams fought really hard today," Tennessee head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I have always respected Jen Hyde at Florida State because her teams are always ready to compete and today was a great example of that.
"Our team's conversation between doubles and singles was very simple. We focused on the fact that if we want to win at a high level, we have to believe in ourselves when things get tight and learn to close out matches. We needed to go out there and believe that we are better in all six spots, and then we needed to work for every single point."
The winner of the Lady Vols' matchup with LSU will qualify for next month's 16-team ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Seattle.
The win over the Seminoles is Tennessee's first at an ITA Kick-Off Regional since 2014. A win on Saturday would mark the first time that the Lady Vols have won a regional championship since 2012.
Florida State started off the match by winning the doubles point, but Tennessee's singles play lifted the Lady Vols to the win, as Kaitlin Staines (Court 2), Ariadna Riley (Court 4), Rebeka Mertena (Court 5) and Maia Haumuller (Court 6) all captured wins.
With the two teams tied 3-3, Staines clinched the win for the Lady Vols with a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) win over No. 125 Ana Oparenovic on Court 2.
"I just played the match of my life," Staines said. "I may not have been playing my best tennis, but I gave absolutely everything I had, and with the whole team behind me there's no better feeling!
"I could not have done it without with my girls and my coaches on the sideline giving me the energy I needed to get to get over the line! This is what college tennis is all about and this is just the start for our Tennessee women's tennis team. I love our team!"
On Court 4, Ariadna Riley defeated Petra Hule, 6-3, 6-4.
Mertena and Haumuller – both freshmen – captured wins on Courts 5 and 6 over Florida State's Ariana Rahmanparast (6-3, 6-2) and Andrea Garcia (6-1, 6-3). Haumuller is now 6-0 in singles play as a Lady Vol, while Mertena is 5-1.
Despite Florida State capturing the doubles point, 33rd-ranked Sadie Hammond and Staines won their ninth straight match as a duo, defeating Carla Touly and Hule, 6-3.
QUOTES
Senior Sadie Hammond
"Doubles was extremely competitive and we were so close to putting that point on the board. We've worked diligently on doubles, so getting the doubles point is important to us. However, we know that we are six singles strong. Regardless of getting the doubles point or not, we are going to fight relentlessly in singles. Words can't explain how proud I am of my teammates. One of our strengths as a team is our togetherness. We compete and fight for each other, and that's what is going to take us far this season. This match is just the beginning of something special."
Head Coach Alison Ojeda
"One thing I am most proud about from today is how Ari and Maia responded to the doubles point. They came out in singles and did a fantastic job of competing and playing at a high level to win their matches, and then Rebeka did the same thing. I'm so happy for them!
"Sadie battled an incredibly tough player and one of the best in the country, which is huge for our team! When we see that we have a chance on every court, it's chilling and just gives everyone confidence a swing.
"We knew we would face adversity today, and at 7-6, 6-6, Staines was prepared for it. She did a fantastic job of settling down while still playing offensively. That's hard to do, and she did it in a big time situation. I'm really proud of her and the whole team!
"One of my favorite things about competing against great teams is that they will always raise their level of play when things get tough. Florida State did that, and we can expect that again tomorrow as we prepare for a very good LSU team. Looking towards tomorrow, we have another opportunity in front of us. As fun as today was, it's time to refocus and get ready to compete at a high level again!"
With the win, Tennessee (3-0) advances to face LSU (2-0) in tomorrow's ITA Kick-Off Weekend Tallahassee Regional championship match at 4 p.m. LSU defeated Clemson prior to Tennessee's match against Florida State Friday, 4-0.
"I thought both teams fought really hard today," Tennessee head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I have always respected Jen Hyde at Florida State because her teams are always ready to compete and today was a great example of that.
"Our team's conversation between doubles and singles was very simple. We focused on the fact that if we want to win at a high level, we have to believe in ourselves when things get tight and learn to close out matches. We needed to go out there and believe that we are better in all six spots, and then we needed to work for every single point."
The winner of the Lady Vols' matchup with LSU will qualify for next month's 16-team ITA National Team Indoor Championships in Seattle.
The win over the Seminoles is Tennessee's first at an ITA Kick-Off Regional since 2014. A win on Saturday would mark the first time that the Lady Vols have won a regional championship since 2012.
Florida State started off the match by winning the doubles point, but Tennessee's singles play lifted the Lady Vols to the win, as Kaitlin Staines (Court 2), Ariadna Riley (Court 4), Rebeka Mertena (Court 5) and Maia Haumuller (Court 6) all captured wins.
With the two teams tied 3-3, Staines clinched the win for the Lady Vols with a 7-6(4), 7-6(4) win over No. 125 Ana Oparenovic on Court 2.
"I just played the match of my life," Staines said. "I may not have been playing my best tennis, but I gave absolutely everything I had, and with the whole team behind me there's no better feeling!
"I could not have done it without with my girls and my coaches on the sideline giving me the energy I needed to get to get over the line! This is what college tennis is all about and this is just the start for our Tennessee women's tennis team. I love our team!"
On Court 4, Ariadna Riley defeated Petra Hule, 6-3, 6-4.
Mertena and Haumuller – both freshmen – captured wins on Courts 5 and 6 over Florida State's Ariana Rahmanparast (6-3, 6-2) and Andrea Garcia (6-1, 6-3). Haumuller is now 6-0 in singles play as a Lady Vol, while Mertena is 5-1.
Despite Florida State capturing the doubles point, 33rd-ranked Sadie Hammond and Staines won their ninth straight match as a duo, defeating Carla Touly and Hule, 6-3.
QUOTES
Senior Sadie Hammond
"Doubles was extremely competitive and we were so close to putting that point on the board. We've worked diligently on doubles, so getting the doubles point is important to us. However, we know that we are six singles strong. Regardless of getting the doubles point or not, we are going to fight relentlessly in singles. Words can't explain how proud I am of my teammates. One of our strengths as a team is our togetherness. We compete and fight for each other, and that's what is going to take us far this season. This match is just the beginning of something special."
Head Coach Alison Ojeda
"One thing I am most proud about from today is how Ari and Maia responded to the doubles point. They came out in singles and did a fantastic job of competing and playing at a high level to win their matches, and then Rebeka did the same thing. I'm so happy for them!
"Sadie battled an incredibly tough player and one of the best in the country, which is huge for our team! When we see that we have a chance on every court, it's chilling and just gives everyone confidence a swing.
"We knew we would face adversity today, and at 7-6, 6-6, Staines was prepared for it. She did a fantastic job of settling down while still playing offensively. That's hard to do, and she did it in a big time situation. I'm really proud of her and the whole team!
"One of my favorite things about competing against great teams is that they will always raise their level of play when things get tough. Florida State did that, and we can expect that again tomorrow as we prepare for a very good LSU team. Looking towards tomorrow, we have another opportunity in front of us. As fun as today was, it's time to refocus and get ready to compete at a high level again!"
RESULTS
Singles
1. No. 39 Carla Touly (FSU) def. Sadie Hammond (UT), 6-3, 6-4
2. No. 91 Kaitlin Staines (UT) def. No. 125 Ana Oparenovic (FSU), 7-6(4), 7-6(4)
3. Emmanuelle Salas (FSU) def. Johanna Silva (UT), 6-4, 7-5
4. No. 93 Ariadna Riley (UT) def. Petra Hule (FSU), 6-3, 6-4
5. Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Ariana Rahmanparast (FSU), 6-3, 6-2
6. Maia Haumuller (UT) def. Andrea Garcia (FSU), 6-1, 6-3
Order of Finish: 6, 1, 4, 5, 3, 2
Doubles
1. No. 33 Hammond/Staines (UT) def. Touly/Hule (FSU), 6-3
2. Oparenovic/Salas (FSU) def. McGiffin/Mertena (UT), 6-1
3. Das/Rahmanparast (FSU) def. Haumuller/Riley (UT), 7-5
Order of Finish: 2, 1, 3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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