University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Wake Forest
Lady Vols Knock Off Wake Forest, 4-3, and ECU, 4-0
January 18, 2025 | Women's Tennis
WINSTON SALEM, N.C. – The No. 18 Tennessee women's tennis team opened its 2025 spring dual season with back-to-back victories on Saturday afternoon at Wake Forest Tennis Center. Tennessee locked up a 4-3 victory against Wake Forest, before sweeping East Carolina, 4-0, to finish out the day.
Tennessee 4, Wake Forest 3
The Lady Vols dropped the doubles point against the Demon Deacons, falling to a 1-0 deficit. Maeve Thornton and Francesca Mattioli came up short in their match versus Whitley Pate and Anna Zhang, 3-6. Elza Tomase and Elim Yan fell to a 5-7 defeat against Krystal Blanch and Makyala Mills.
In singles, Tennessee turned up the heat and gained momentum quickly. No. 106 Britez Risso grabbed the first singles win with a 6-3, 6-1 victory versus Brianna Baldi. Thornton gave Tennessee the lead by notching a 6-3, 6-2 win against Whitley Pate. No. 54 Vanesa Suarez secured a triumph against Kady Tannenbaum 4-6, 6-0, 6-4. No. 10 Tomase clinched the match with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 decision versus Nevena Carton.
Two Lady Vols dropped their matches, allowing Wake Forest to gain two points in singles. Aulia fell 2-6, 5-7 to Krystal Blanch, while Yan came up short against Sankavi Gownder in a 4-6, 5-7 affair.
Tennessee 4, East Carolina 0
The Big Orange kept its momentum rolling against the Pirates, claiming the doubles point. Aulia and Britez Risso posted a 6-0 sweep against Isabella Rivera and Lily Lancaster. Conley Raidt and Saray Yli-Piipari secured the doubles point with a 6-1 victory against Anne Lou Champion and Martina Muzzolon.
No. 10 Tomase tacked on the first singles win with a 6-1, 6-0 tally against Ines Bachir. No. 106 Britez Risso nabbed a 6-1, 6-1 win over Anne Lou Champion. Raidt rounded out the match with a 6-2, 6-0 win against Xenia Jeromin.
Up Next: The Lady Vols will return home to host the ITA Kickoff weekend, facing Texas Tech in the opening round. The match is slated to begin at 4 p.m. at Goodfriend Tennis Center.
Match Notables:
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The win marked the 789th victory for the Tennessee women's tennis program.
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Head coach Alison Ojeda now owns 145 victories during her tenure, the third-winningest coach in program history.
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The Lady Vols moved to 20-16 all-time against Wake Forest, picking up a win in each of their last seven meetings.
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Tennessee improved to 1-0 against East Carolina, adding their first-ever victory against the Pirates.
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Saturday's wins mark the 32nd time in program history that the Lady Vols begin the season 2-0, the eighth time under Ojeda.
Results: Tennessee 4, Wake Forest 3
Doubles
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Mills/Blanch def. Tomase/Yan 5-7
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Aulia/Britez Risso vs. #44 Carton/Tannebaum 6-5 (UF)
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Zhang/Pate def. Mattioli/Thornton 6-3
Singles
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#10 Elza Tomase def. Nevena Carton 6-4, 4-6, 6-2
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Krystal Blanch def. Catherine Aulia 6-2, 7-5
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Maeve Thornton def. Whitley Pate 6-3, 6-2
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#54 Vanesa Suarez def. Kady Tannenbaum 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
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#106 Leyla Britez Risso def. Brianna Baldi 6-3, 6-1
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Sankavi Gownder def. Elim Yan 6-4, 7-5
Results: Tennessee 4, East Carolina 0
Doubles
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Tomase/Yan vs. Bachir/Jeromin, 4-3 (UF)
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Britez Risso/Aulia def. Rivera/Lancaster 6-0
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Raidt/Yli-Piipari def. Champion/Muzzolon 6-1
Singles
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#10 Elza Tomase def. Ines Bachir 6-1, 6-0
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Maeve Thornton vs. Martina Muzzolon 6-1, 3-2 (UF)
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#54 Vanesa Suarez vs. Isabella Rivera 6-2, 4-2 (UF)
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#106 Leyla Britez Risso def. Anne Lou Champion 6-1, 6-1
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Saray Yli-Piipari vs. Joan Madi 7-5, 1-0 (UF)
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Conley Raidt def. Xenia Jeromin 6-2, 6-0
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,1
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
5,3,6,2,4,1
Players Mentioned
