#23 Lady Vols Open SEC Play with 7-0 Sweep of Mississippi State

Friday, March 4

Knoxville, TN

12 PM

University of Tennessee

Mississippi State

#23 Lady Vols Open SEC Play with 7-0 Sweep of Mississippi State

March 04, 2022 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Box Score WATCH - Alison Ojeda Postgame WATCH - Tenika McGiffin Postgame Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE – In the opening match of Southeastern Conference action, the 23^rd-ranked Tennessee women's tennis team swept Mississippi State, 7-0, Friday afternoon at Barksdale Stadium.

Tennessee (7-2, 1-0 SEC) was propelled by big performances across the board. 57^th-ranked Elza Tomase was dominant in singles, earning a 6-1, 6-0 win over Tamara Racine on court 3 for the first singles win of the day. She finished the match in style, blasting a serve down the 'T' on match-point.

"We came out with a very clear purpose today and, two or three hours later once the match was done, we can sit down as a group and say we achieved our purpose today," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "I think that is really positive for our group. On every single one of our courts in singles, there was an individual challenge that each player faced and they handled it well and grew."

Tennessee got the match started by winning the doubles point. Eleonora Molinaro and Rebeka Mertena turned it on at court 3, cruising past Mississippi State's Alexandra Mikhailuk and Alessia Tagliente, 6-1, for the first doubles win. Eighth-ranked Daria Kuczer and Tenika McGiffin clinched the doubles point with a 6-2 victory on court one.

Esther Adeshina wrangled the second singles victory of the day, 7-5, 6-4 on court 4 and No. 39 Tenika McGiffin clinched the match, defeating Magda Adaloglou 7-6(4), 6-1 on court 1.

"It was a really good performance from all of the girls today, especially coming into outdoor season," McGiffin said. "We've been working on energy and being solid and being present in each moment and every point and it was really good to see across the board – all nine courts – everyone do that."

Per new SEC policy, all women's tennis matches will be played to clinch in doubles, but singles will play out. As such, the Lady Vols finished the remaining three matches, earning three more victories.

Kuczer fell behind early on court 5, losing the first set, 6-1, but she wouldn't stay down for long - only losing three games in the last two sets, winning 6-2, 6-1 to pull off the comeback against Mikhailuk.

Molinaro earned her 10th win in a row in a super tiebreak, 7-5, 6-7(3), 1-0(12-10). 30^th-ranked Mertena put a bow on the day, defeating No. 69 Emma Antonaki, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3.

Full results from Friday's conference opener can be found below.

UP NEXT
Tennessee concludes its opening weekend of SEC play hosting the Ole Miss Rebels on Sunday, March 6, at noon ET at Barksdale Stadium.

THREE PLAYERS WITH FOUR RANKED WINS
Rebeka Mertena earned her fourth ranked win of the season. She is the fourth singles player for Tennessee to have four ranked wins, joining Tenika McGiffin and Elza Tomase.

TWENTY FOR TOMASE
Elza Tomase earned her 20^th singles win of the season. As of the last ITA Individual Rankings released on Feb. 24, there were only nine other players in the country with 20 singles wins and only one other such individual in the SEC.

#23 Tennessee 7, #56 Mississippi State 0

Singles
1. #39 Tenika McGiffin (TENN) def. Magda Adaloglou (MS) 7-6(4), 6-1
2. #30 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. #69 Emma Antonaki (MS) 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3
3. #57 Elza Tomase (TENN) def. Tamara Racine (MS) 6-1, 6-0
4. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Chloe Cirotte (MS) 7-5, 6-4
5. Daria Kuczer (TENN) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MS) 1-6, 6-2, 6-1
6. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. Alessia Tagliente (MS) 7-5, 6-7(3), 1-0(10)

Order of Finish: 3,4,1,5,6,2

Doubles
1. #8 Daria Kuczer/Tenika McGiffin (TENN) def. Emma Antonaki/Tamara Racine (MS) 6-2
2. Esther Adeshina/Elza Tomase (TENN) vs. #39 Magda Adaloglou/Chloe Cirotte (MS) 5-2, unfinished
3. Eleonora Molinaro/Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk/Alessia Tagliente (MS) 6-1

Order of Finish: 3,1