University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, May 4
Raleigh, N.C.
11:00 AM
University of Tennessee
4
vs
0
Furman
No. 20 Lady Vols Move On To Second Round of NCAA Tournament
May 04, 2019 | Women's Tennis
RALEIGH, N.C. – In its opening round match of the NCAA Tournament, the No. 20 Tennessee women's tennis team defeated Furman to move on to Sunday's Round of 32, 4-0.
The Lady Vols (20-7) will face the winner of Saturday afternoon's match between No. 12 seed NC State and VCU in the Round of 32. That match is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.
"Any time you play against a team who is so used to winning like Furman is, you have to come out focused and ready to compete right away," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I'm really proud of our team because that is exactly what we did.
"We agreed back in August to roll up our sleeves and get to work, and that's precisely what we did today and it's what we plan to do again tomorrow."
Saturday's win over Furman (26-2) marks the first time that Tennessee has moved on to the Round of 32 since 2017 and just the second time since 2013.
Kaitlin Staines, ranked No. 124 in the ITA's singles rankings, clinched the shutout over the Paladins for Tennessee with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Katty Weymouth at the No. 2 singles spot. Staines has now won five of her past six singles matches.
"Going into today we knew it was going to be tough," Staines said. "However, we came out knowing how much work we have put in over the last few months and we were ready for whatever came at us today.
"Right from the very first point everyone stepped up. As a teammate I couldn't be more proud of the girls with their fight and how they all competed today. It was so much fun playing out there, and now it's time to recover and get ready for the second round."
Ariadna Riley won the Lady Vols' first singles match of the contest on Court 5 over Carol Elizabeth Kerman, 6-0, 6-1. Riley has now won five singles matches in a row, all at the No. 5 spot in the lineup.
The Lady Vols' other singles win came from Johanna Silva, who defeated Madison Dillon, 6-3, 6-3. With Saturday's victory, Silva is now 4-0 in NCAA Tournament singles matches dating back to her freshman season.
Tennessee won the doubles point behind victories at the No. 1 and 3 spots in the lineup.
All-American doubles duo Sadie Hammond and Staines clinched the doubles point for Tennessee, defeating Katarina Kozarov and Julia Adams, 6-3.
Hammond and Staines are now 19-3 together this spring.
"I'm so excited to be moving on to the second round," Hammond said. "I remember the feeling of losing first round last year in the NCAA Tournament, and it was the worst feeling.
"This year, we're taking it one match at a time and focusing on what we do best. I'm so incredibly proud of my teammates for our work ethic and fight on the court today. Everything we have done over the course of this year and season has prepared us for this moment. I can't wait to get on court tomorrow."
Tenika McGiffin and Riley, competing together in doubles for the first time since the season opener against North Alabama on Jan. 14, grabbed Tennessee's first doubles win on Court 3. The duo shut out Furman's Kerman and Georgie Walker, 6-0.
LADY VOLS SET PROGRAM RECORD: Saturday's 4-0 win over Furman stands as Tennessee's 11th shutout of the season, which is the most in a single season in Tennessee women's tennis history.
This year's Lady Vol squad breaks the record set by the 2002 team, which recorded 10 shutouts.
20-WIN MARK: The win over Furman is Tennessee's 20th victory of the season, marking the first time that the Lady Vols have reached the 20-win threshold win 2011.
RESULTS
No. 20 Tennessee 4, Furman 0
Singles
1. #67 Katarina Kozarov (FU) vs. #62 Sadie Hammond (UT), 6-3, 3-4, unfinished
2. #124 Kaitlin Staines (UT) def. Katty Weymouth (FU), 6-3, 6-4
3. Julia Adams (FU) vs. Rebeka Mertena (UT), 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
4. Johanna Silva (UT) def. Madison Dillon (FU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Ariadna Riley (UT) def. Carol Elizabeth Kerman (FU), 6-0, 6-1
6. Tenika McGiffin (UT) vs. Georgie Walker (FU), 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
Doubles
1. #9 Hammond/Staines (UT) def. Kozarov/Adams (FU), 6-3
2. Weymouth/Dillon (FU) vs. Mertena/Silva (UT), 4-3, unfinished
3. McGiffin/Riley (UT) def. Kerman/Walker (FU), 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1); Singles (5, 4, 2)
The Lady Vols (20-7) will face the winner of Saturday afternoon's match between No. 12 seed NC State and VCU in the Round of 32. That match is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.
"Any time you play against a team who is so used to winning like Furman is, you have to come out focused and ready to compete right away," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I'm really proud of our team because that is exactly what we did.
"We agreed back in August to roll up our sleeves and get to work, and that's precisely what we did today and it's what we plan to do again tomorrow."
Saturday's win over Furman (26-2) marks the first time that Tennessee has moved on to the Round of 32 since 2017 and just the second time since 2013.
Kaitlin Staines, ranked No. 124 in the ITA's singles rankings, clinched the shutout over the Paladins for Tennessee with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Katty Weymouth at the No. 2 singles spot. Staines has now won five of her past six singles matches.
"Going into today we knew it was going to be tough," Staines said. "However, we came out knowing how much work we have put in over the last few months and we were ready for whatever came at us today.
"Right from the very first point everyone stepped up. As a teammate I couldn't be more proud of the girls with their fight and how they all competed today. It was so much fun playing out there, and now it's time to recover and get ready for the second round."
Ariadna Riley won the Lady Vols' first singles match of the contest on Court 5 over Carol Elizabeth Kerman, 6-0, 6-1. Riley has now won five singles matches in a row, all at the No. 5 spot in the lineup.
The Lady Vols' other singles win came from Johanna Silva, who defeated Madison Dillon, 6-3, 6-3. With Saturday's victory, Silva is now 4-0 in NCAA Tournament singles matches dating back to her freshman season.
Tennessee won the doubles point behind victories at the No. 1 and 3 spots in the lineup.
All-American doubles duo Sadie Hammond and Staines clinched the doubles point for Tennessee, defeating Katarina Kozarov and Julia Adams, 6-3.
Hammond and Staines are now 19-3 together this spring.
"I'm so excited to be moving on to the second round," Hammond said. "I remember the feeling of losing first round last year in the NCAA Tournament, and it was the worst feeling.
"This year, we're taking it one match at a time and focusing on what we do best. I'm so incredibly proud of my teammates for our work ethic and fight on the court today. Everything we have done over the course of this year and season has prepared us for this moment. I can't wait to get on court tomorrow."
Tenika McGiffin and Riley, competing together in doubles for the first time since the season opener against North Alabama on Jan. 14, grabbed Tennessee's first doubles win on Court 3. The duo shut out Furman's Kerman and Georgie Walker, 6-0.
LADY VOLS SET PROGRAM RECORD: Saturday's 4-0 win over Furman stands as Tennessee's 11th shutout of the season, which is the most in a single season in Tennessee women's tennis history.
This year's Lady Vol squad breaks the record set by the 2002 team, which recorded 10 shutouts.
20-WIN MARK: The win over Furman is Tennessee's 20th victory of the season, marking the first time that the Lady Vols have reached the 20-win threshold win 2011.
RESULTS
No. 20 Tennessee 4, Furman 0
Singles
1. #67 Katarina Kozarov (FU) vs. #62 Sadie Hammond (UT), 6-3, 3-4, unfinished
2. #124 Kaitlin Staines (UT) def. Katty Weymouth (FU), 6-3, 6-4
3. Julia Adams (FU) vs. Rebeka Mertena (UT), 6-4, 4-5, unfinished
4. Johanna Silva (UT) def. Madison Dillon (FU), 6-3, 6-3
5. Ariadna Riley (UT) def. Carol Elizabeth Kerman (FU), 6-0, 6-1
6. Tenika McGiffin (UT) vs. Georgie Walker (FU), 6-4, 4-1, unfinished
Doubles
1. #9 Hammond/Staines (UT) def. Kozarov/Adams (FU), 6-3
2. Weymouth/Dillon (FU) vs. Mertena/Silva (UT), 4-3, unfinished
3. McGiffin/Riley (UT) def. Kerman/Walker (FU), 6-0
Order of finish: Doubles (3, 1); Singles (5, 4, 2)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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