University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
ITA All-American Championships
Tomase Falls in Singles Championship at ITA All-American Championships
September 29, 2024 | Women's Tennis
CARY, N.C. – Senior Elza Tomase of the Tennessee women's tennis team dropped a 6-3, 6-3 decision in the singles title match of the ITA All-American Championships on Sunday at Cary Tennis Park. Tomase was the first-ever Lady Volunteer to reach the singles championship match.
No. 62 Tomase faced off against Wisconsin's No. 44 Maria Sholokhova for the prestigious title. The Liepaja, Latvia, native struggled to find her rhythm early, falling behind in the first set and unable to regain momentum. Despite a valiant effort in the second set, Tomase rallied from a 5-1 deficit to win two games, but ultimately couldn't secure the victory.
"Today was tough on my body and credit to my opponent for making it tougher," Tomase said. "She played well. I am happy that I competed hard for these eight matches and there are a lot of positives to take away from today and this week overall. It is definitely an experience that I will take and cherish forever! Also, I am really excited to go back to Knoxville, to be back with my team, practice and get better!"
Throughout the tournament, Tomase showcased her skills with seven singles wins, six of which were against ranked opponents. Her standout performance came against Vanderbilt's No. 3, Celia-Belle Mohr with a 6-1, 5-7, 6-0 triumph.
"I'm very proud of Elza," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "She has taken her experience from last year's team success and applied it to her day-to-day training. Anyone who has seen Elza play knows just how good she can be. Now she is showing everybody how good she is!"
With her advancement through the quarterfinals, Tomase has secured an automatic qualification for the NCAA Individual Championships, set to take place from November 19-24 in Waco, Texas
Results:
Singles
#44 Maria Sholokhova def. #62 Elza Tomase 6-3, 6-3
Players Mentioned
