University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
#26 Pepperdine
#10 Tennessee Reaches Third Straight NCAA Super Regional, Sweeping #26 Pepperdine, 4-0
May 03, 2025 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The 10th-seeded Tennessee women's tennis claimed a 4-0 victory against No. 26 Pepperdine during the Second Round of the 2025 Women's NCAA Team Championship on Saturday afternoon at Goodfriend Tennis Center. The triumph marked the 12th time in the program's history the Lady Vols have reached the round of 16, including the third consecutive year.
"Very excited," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "Playing at home on Rocky Top makes a huge difference. Having home court advantage with the Tennessee men's tennis team here was fantastic. The girls compete their tails off all the time, but in front of our own crowd makes a difference."
The Lady Vols (19-7) found their groove early and secured the 1-0 advantage against Pepperdine (15-12). The No. 30-ranked pair of Catherine Aulia and Leyla Britez Risso produced a 6-0 victory against Liam Oved and Sebastiann Scilipoti. Vanesa Suarez and Maeve Thornton clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 victory against Duru Soke and Vivan Yang. The No. 74-ranked pairing of Elza Tomase and Saray Yli-Piipari were ahead 5-4 when play halted.
In singles, Yli-Piipari carded her second consecutive postseason victory with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Liam Oved. No. 7 Tomase extended the lead to 3-0 with a 6-1, 6-4 triumph against Vivian Yang. No. 66 Britez Risso clinched the match with a 6-2, 6-4 ledger versus Alexia Harmon.
Up Next: Tennessee will face No. 7 Virginia in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Women's NCAA Championship. The time and date of the match will be announced at a later date.
Match Notables:
-
The win marked the 807th victory for the Tennessee women's tennis program.
-
Head coach Alison Ojeda now owns 162 victories during her tenure and is the third-winningest coach in program history.
-
Tennessee collected its second-ever victory against Pepperdine, improving the all-time series to 2-2.
-
Prior to today's win, the two squads met on Feb. 18, 2025, at the 2025 ITA National Indoor Championships, when the Lady Vols posted a 4-3 triumph.
-
The win marked the 12th time in program history that the Big Orange fended off its second-round foe, the third in the Ojeda era.
-
It also marked the third consecutive year that Tennessee has surpassed its second-round opponent.
-
It's the ninth time in program history that Tennessee has conquered its regional when hosting. The 2025 squad will join the 2024, 2023, 2010, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1999 and 1998 teams.
-
The Lady Vols earned the doubles point for the 18th time this season.
Results:
Singles
1. #7 Elza Tomase (TENN) def. Vivian Yang (PEP) 6-1, 6-4
2. #41 Catherine Aulia (TENN) vs. #56 Anastasiia Grechkina (PEP) 6-1, 2-6, 1-4, unfinished
3. #66 Leyla Britez Risso (TENN) def. Alexia Harmon (PEP) 6-2, 6-4
4. Vanesa Suarez (TENN) vs. Sebastiann Scilipoti (PEP) 4-6, 6-1, 1-0, unfinished
5. Francesca Mattioli (TENN) vs. Duru Soke (PEP) 7-6 (7-4), 1-1, unfinished
6. Saray Yli-Piipari (TENN) def. Liam Oved (PEP) 6-3, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6,1,3
Doubles
1. #30 Catherine Aulia/Leyla Britez Risso (TENN) def. Oved,Liam/Scilipoti,Sebastiann (PEP) 6-0
2. Elza Tomase/Saray Yli-Piipari (TENN) vs. Harmon,Alexia/Grechkina,Anastasiia (PEP) 5-4, unfinished
3. Maeve Thornton/Vanesa Suarez (TENN) def. Soke,Duru/Yang,Vivian (PEP) 6-3
Order of Finish: 1,3
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
1,3
#1 Singles Match
#2 Singles Match
#3 Singles Match
#4 Singles Match
#5 Singles Match
#6 Singles Match
Order of Finish:
6,1,3
Players Mentioned
