Lady Vols Pick Up Four Wins in Day Two of Duke Winter Classic

Monday, January 11

Durham, N.C.

TBA

University of Tennessee

Duke Winter Classic

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2020.10.16 - Tennessee vs. Georgia

Photo by: Caleb Jones/Tennessee Athletics

Lady Vols Pick Up Four Wins in Day Two of Duke Winter Classic

January 11, 2021 | Women's Tennis

Results

By: Ricky Martinez

DURHAM, N.C. –The Tennessee women's tennis team picked up three singles and one doubles win in day two of the Duke Winter Classic.

"A month ago I got a call from Duke asking if we wanted to play," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I knew my answer was yes, but I needed to know what the team wanted to do. We got a unanimous yes in response. The reason that is so important is because their training and preparation for this event is what led to some impressive wins today by Carly (Briggs), Rebeka (Mertena) and Callie (Creath) in singles. We also had some very hard fought battles that we came up a bit short in. I'm really proud of our girls commitment to daily preparation and today's results are a byproduct of that."
The pair of junior Daria Kuczer and freshman Esther Adeshina collected the first win of the day with a 6-3 triumph over Hannah Zhao and Margaryta Bilokin of Duke. The duo split the day, dropping their first match to Blue Devils Kelly Chen and Georgia Drummy in a tightly contested match, 7-6 (3).

Sophomore Carly Briggs picked up her second singles win for the Big Orange in the Duke Winter Classic. The Calhoun, Georgia product defeated Duke's Kelly Chen, who held the No. 7 ITA singles ranking on March 7, 2020, in three sets (6-3, 1-6, 6-0). Briggs is now a perfect 7-0 in her career in three set matches and extends her season-long winning streak to seven matches dating back to Oct. 17.

"Carly played a good match this evening," assistant coach Jarryd Chaplin said. "She possesses some great qualities on and off the tennis court and has been consistent with her performances."

Briggs moves to 9-2 on the season and 21-5 in her career.

Junior Rebeka Mertena earned her first win of 2021. The junior from Liepaja, Latvia native downed Alana Smith, who held the No. 22 ITA singles ranking on March 7, 2020, of NC State in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.

Sophomore Callie Creath picked up her second-straight win of the Duke Winter Classic. The Austin, Texas product downed NC State's Liz Norman 6-3, 6-1 to earn the final UT win of the day.

The Lady Vols close out the Duke Winter Classic tomorrow at 11:15 a.m. ET.

Monday Results
Doubles
Kelly Chen/Georgia Drummy (DU) def. Daria Kuczer/Esther Adeshina (UT) 7-6 (3)
Abigail Rencheli/Lexi Kerberle (NCSU) def. Julie Ball/Rebeka Mertena (UT) 7-6 (4)
Anna Rogers/Alana Smith (NCSU) def. Tenika McGiffin/Carly Briggs (UT) 6-2
Daria Kuczer/Esther Adeshina (UT) def. Hannah Zhao/Margaryta Bilokin (DU) 6-3
Lana Mavor/Amelia Rajecki (NCSU) def. Julie Ball/Rebeka Mertena (UT) 7-5
Jaeda Daniel/Adriana Reami (NCSU) def. Tenika McGiffin/Carly Briggs (UT) 6-1

Singles
Carly Briggs (UT) def. Kelly Chen (DU) 6-3, 1-6, 6-0
Karolina Berankova (DU) def. Esther Adeshina (UT) 7-5, 4-6, 6-4
Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Alana Smith (NCSU) 6-1, 6-4
Amelia Rajecki (NCSU) def. Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-1, 6-2
Ema Lazic (DU) def. Julie Ball (UT) 2-6, 7-5, 6-2
Callie Creath (UT) def. Liz Norman (NCSU) 6-3, 6-1
Jaeda Daniel (NCSU) def. Daria Kuczer (UT) 1-6, 6-2, 7-5

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