University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, February 19
Knoxville, TN
11 AM
University of Tennessee
vs
Indiana
Women’s Tennis Central: #20 Tennessee vs. Indiana/Bellarmine
February 18, 2022 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE – After a weekend off, the 20th-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team is back in action for three matches over the weekend, facing Indiana on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. and Bellarmine Sunday, Feb. 20, for a doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Tennessee (3-2) is looking to finish its non-conference schedule strong after falling in the last two matches to sixth-ranked NC State and 11th-ranked Ohio State. With three wins this weekend, the Lady Vols would match their non-conference record from a season ago, where UT was 6-2 heading into SEC action.
Admission to all of this weekend's matches are free. The Lady Vols will be playing out all singles matches against Indiana on Saturday, and will be playing to clinch (first to 4 points) against Bellarmine in both Sunday matches.
For fans unable to attend, live stats will be provided by UTsports.com and can be found here. Live streaming will be available through Playsight and can be found here.
HEAD COACH ALISON OJEDA
"This weekend, I want to learn exactly how tough our team is. I also want to see improvement in our percentage of first serves made, in doubles, as well as the execution of our returns…. Honestly, I am also just so excited to get back out there, Saturday morning can't get here soon enough."
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Vols fell in their home opener to No. 6 NC State, 5-2. Tennessee got singles wins from Eleonora Molinaro, who won the first singles match of the afternoon, on court 6, 6-3, 6-1, and Elza Tomase who grabbed a win on court four, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
Indiana (5-2) heads to Rocky Top after facing another SEC foe in a midweek matchup, Kentucky. The Hoosiers fell 4-0 to the Wildcats in their first road match of the 2022 season.
Two of IU's undefeated singles players fell in Tuesday's defeat to UK. Lara Schneider, who was 5-0, lost in the No. 2 spot, 6-0, 6-2, while Alexandra Staiculescu, who was 4-0, dropped her match at No. 3, 6-2, 6-4.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Bellarmine (0-7) is under the leadership of first-year head coach Brian Slack, Slack comes from a successful background of coaching men's and women's tennis at the NAIA and JUCO level, and is coaching at the DI level for the first time since he was the associate head women's and men's coach at Morehead State in 2005.
Bellarmine is led by Ekaterina Tikhonko who is 6-4 overall and 2-2 in dual matches this season. Tikhonko has not played since Dec. 30 against Murray State. The Knights last won their doubles point against IUPUI on Jan. 21, 2022, getting victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
Bellarmine with face Louisville on Saturday before traveling to Knoxville to take on the Lady Vols on Sunday.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Tennessee leads Indiana, 23-15, in the all-time series. The Lady Vols are 13-5 when facing the Hoosiers on Rocky Top. The Big Orange won the last matchup, 4-0, against Indiana on Feb. 9, 2020 in Bloomington.
Saturday's match against Bellarmine marks the first ever meeting between the two sides.
LEADING THE LEAGUE
Freshman Elza Tomase leads the SEC in total wins for the 2021-22 season with 22, entering Friday. She is one of six players in the country to surpass 20 wins this season, as of Feb. 9.
ELE ON FIRE
Eleonora Molinaro enters the weekend on a career-best seven match win streak. She is a perfect 3-0 in singles dual matches and has not lost since Oct. 30, 2021 at the Tennessee Fall Invitational.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is off next week, but kicks off SEC play Friday, March 4, against Mississippi State at noon in Knoxville. The Lady Vols also take on Ole Miss during that weekend, playing the Rebels Sunday, March 6, also at noon.
Tennessee (3-2) is looking to finish its non-conference schedule strong after falling in the last two matches to sixth-ranked NC State and 11th-ranked Ohio State. With three wins this weekend, the Lady Vols would match their non-conference record from a season ago, where UT was 6-2 heading into SEC action.
Admission to all of this weekend's matches are free. The Lady Vols will be playing out all singles matches against Indiana on Saturday, and will be playing to clinch (first to 4 points) against Bellarmine in both Sunday matches.
For fans unable to attend, live stats will be provided by UTsports.com and can be found here. Live streaming will be available through Playsight and can be found here.
HEAD COACH ALISON OJEDA
"This weekend, I want to learn exactly how tough our team is. I also want to see improvement in our percentage of first serves made, in doubles, as well as the execution of our returns…. Honestly, I am also just so excited to get back out there, Saturday morning can't get here soon enough."
LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Vols fell in their home opener to No. 6 NC State, 5-2. Tennessee got singles wins from Eleonora Molinaro, who won the first singles match of the afternoon, on court 6, 6-3, 6-1, and Elza Tomase who grabbed a win on court four, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.
SCOUTING THE HOOSIERS
Indiana (5-2) heads to Rocky Top after facing another SEC foe in a midweek matchup, Kentucky. The Hoosiers fell 4-0 to the Wildcats in their first road match of the 2022 season.
Two of IU's undefeated singles players fell in Tuesday's defeat to UK. Lara Schneider, who was 5-0, lost in the No. 2 spot, 6-0, 6-2, while Alexandra Staiculescu, who was 4-0, dropped her match at No. 3, 6-2, 6-4.
SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
Bellarmine (0-7) is under the leadership of first-year head coach Brian Slack, Slack comes from a successful background of coaching men's and women's tennis at the NAIA and JUCO level, and is coaching at the DI level for the first time since he was the associate head women's and men's coach at Morehead State in 2005.
Bellarmine is led by Ekaterina Tikhonko who is 6-4 overall and 2-2 in dual matches this season. Tikhonko has not played since Dec. 30 against Murray State. The Knights last won their doubles point against IUPUI on Jan. 21, 2022, getting victories at the No. 2 and No. 3 spots.
Bellarmine with face Louisville on Saturday before traveling to Knoxville to take on the Lady Vols on Sunday.
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Tennessee leads Indiana, 23-15, in the all-time series. The Lady Vols are 13-5 when facing the Hoosiers on Rocky Top. The Big Orange won the last matchup, 4-0, against Indiana on Feb. 9, 2020 in Bloomington.
Saturday's match against Bellarmine marks the first ever meeting between the two sides.
LEADING THE LEAGUE
Freshman Elza Tomase leads the SEC in total wins for the 2021-22 season with 22, entering Friday. She is one of six players in the country to surpass 20 wins this season, as of Feb. 9.
ELE ON FIRE
Eleonora Molinaro enters the weekend on a career-best seven match win streak. She is a perfect 3-0 in singles dual matches and has not lost since Oct. 30, 2021 at the Tennessee Fall Invitational.
UP NEXT
Tennessee is off next week, but kicks off SEC play Friday, March 4, against Mississippi State at noon in Knoxville. The Lady Vols also take on Ole Miss during that weekend, playing the Rebels Sunday, March 6, also at noon.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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