Lady Vols Battle Back to Secure Dramatic 4-3 Victory Over Ohio State
No. 18 Tennessee (4-0) triumphed over No. 15 Ohio State (3-1) with a 4-3 victory on Saturday at Goodfriend Tennis Center, advancing to the prestigious ITA National Team Indoor Championship scheduled for February 7-11.
Tennessee’s assistant coach Elizabeth Scotty described the thrilling match as a true reflection of college tennis. “It’s moments like these that really define the sport,” she said. “You can see both teams giving everything they have. Ohio State came out strong after winning the doubles point, but our team really came together. We dug deep, supported each other, and fought our way back into the match. It was nothing short of incredible.”
The Lady Vols demonstrated their resilience, overcoming a tough start to secure the win. After dropping the doubles point, Tennessee rallied in singles play, claiming crucial victories across the board.
Singles Results:
1. #10 Elza Tomase (TENN) defeated #8 Luciana Perry (OSU) 6-3, 6-4
Tomase emerged victorious in a competitive match, securing a straight-set win against Ohio State’s top player.
2. Teah Chavez (OSU) defeated #19 Catherine Aulia (TENN) 6-2, 6-2
Chavez dominated the match, easily dispatching Aulia in straight sets.
3. Shelly Bereznyak (OSU) defeated Maeve Thornton (TENN) 6-2, 6-3
Bereznyak cruised to a comfortable straight-set win over Thornton.
4. #106 Leyla Britez Risso (TENN) defeated #84 Sydni Ratliff (OSU) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Britez Risso bounced back after dropping the first set to win in three sets, showing great composure and determination.
5. Nao Nishino (OSU) defeated #54 Vanesa Suarez (TENN) 6-1, 6-3
Nishino dominated Suarez in a decisive straight-set match.
6. Conley Raidt (TENN) defeated #46 Audrey Spencer (OSU) 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5)
Raidt secured a hard-fought win in a thrilling three-set match, ultimately prevailing in a tiebreaker after a tense final set.
Doubles Results:
1. Elza Tomase/Elim Yan (TENN) defeated Dani Schoenly/Sydni Ratliff (OSU) 6-2
Tomase and Yan put together an impressive performance, winning comfortably in their doubles match.
2. Catherine Aulia/Leyla Britez Risso (TENN) defeated Teah Chavez/Luciana Perry (OSU) 6-3
Aulia and Britez Risso showed strong chemistry, claiming a straight-set win in their doubles contest.
3. Maeve Thornton/Vanesa Suarez (TENN) vs. Nao Nishino/Audrey Spencer (OSU) 5-3, unfinished
The third doubles match was left unfinished with Tennessee leading 5-3 at the time the outcome was decided.
Order of Finish:
Doubles: 1, 2
Singles: 2, 5, 3, 1, 4, 6
With this thrilling victory, the Lady Vols have earned their place in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. Their ability to bounce back from a tough doubles loss to ultimately secure the win speaks volumes about their resilience and teamwork, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and competitive tournament in February.
