CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Highlighted by a sweep of doubles, including a win over the top-ranked doubles pair in the country, the Tennessee women’s tennis team concluded it’s first day of action at the Tar Heel Invitational.
Daria Kuczer and Tenika McGiffin, playing for only the second time as a doubles pairing, defeated the No. 1-ranked ITA doubles team, and previously undefeated, Fiona Crawley and Elizabeth Scotty. Energy was high inside the Cone-Kenfield Tennis Center on the campus of North Carolina, as the Lady Vols led 6-5 with UNC serving to even up the set. Kuczer/McGiffin broke the top-ranked pair for the match, only conceding two points in the final game.
Elza Tomase and Rebeka Mertena were the first of the three Lady Vol pairings to claim victory as they defeated Anika Yarlagadda and Lindsay Zink from UNC, 6-2. That match was closely mirrored by first-time pairing of Eleonora Molinaro and Esther Adeshina. They bested Sophia Patel and Sara McClure, 6-2.
Singles play picked up shortly after, as Adeshina grabbed the first win for UT, defeating Sophia Patel, 6-4, 6-1. Molinaro then downed Sarah McClure, 6-2, 6-2. After dropping the first set in a tiebreaker, 6-7(5), Kuczer kicked into high gear as she blanked Lindsay Zink in the second set, 6-0, and cruised to a 6-3 third set win, to take the match.
No. 14-ranked Rebeka Mertena was locked in a gritty battle with fifth-ranked Cameron Morra of UNC. Mertena grabbed the first stanza, 7-5, but dropped the second. The court one battle only grew tighter as the third set went on, needing to go to a tiebreak to decide a winner. Down 5-0 in the tiebreak, Mertena battled to make it close, but was unable to overcome the Tar Heel senior, falling 6-7(6) in the third.
One match of the tournament featured Lady Vols facing off as Callie Creath and Kylie Duckworth duked out a three-set match to round out the day of action. Duckworth claimed the first set, 6-3, but Creath battled back, sending it to a tiebreaker set with a 7-5 win. The pair’s fierce match continued in a back-and-forth third, but Creath was able to pull away, taking the tiebreak, 10-6, and the match.
Tennessee continues the Tar Heel Invitational throughout the weekend as the tournament wraps up Sunday afternoon. Full results from Friday’s matches can be found below.
Tar Heel Invitational – Day One Results
Singles
Esther Adeshina (UT) def. Sophia Patel (UNC) 6-4, 6-1
Eleonora Molinaro (UT) def. Sara McClure (UNC) 6-2, 6-2
Elizabeth Scotty (UNC) def. #41 Tenika McGiffin (UT) 6-3, 6-1
#19 Fiona Crawley (UNC) def. #56 Elza Tomase (UT) 6-1, 6-4
Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Lindsay Zink (UNC) 6-7 (5-7), 6-0, 6-3
#5 Cameron Morra (UNC) def. #14 Rebeka Mertena (UT) 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (8-6)
Callie Creath(UT) def. Kylie Duckworth(UT) 3-6, 7-5, 1-0(10-6)
Doubles
Tenika McGiffin/Daria Kuczer (UT) def. #1 Elizabeth Scotty/Fiona Crawley (UNC) 7-5
Elza Tomase/Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. Anika Yarlagadda/Lindsay Zink (UNC) 6-2
Eleonora Molinaro/Esther Adeshina (UT) def. Sophia Patel/Sara McClure (UNC) 6-2