Tennessee had a very successful stretch of individual play during the Fall of 2021 and the Tar Heel Invitational earlier this month. Five Lady Vols currently have 10 or more wins in singles action and the team compiled 10 victories over ranked opponents in singles, with wins over No. 5 and No. 19-ranked opponents. On the doubles side, Tenika McGiffin and Daria Kuczer picked up a huge win at the Tar Heel Invitational, defeating top-ranked Elizabeth Scotty and Fiona Crawley of North Carolina.
Fans can follow along with the Lady Vols’ opener with live stats available here, the password for the stats window is “CLTWTennis”.
HEAD COACH ALISON OJEDA
On preparations for the season opener…
“Preseason training camp has proved to be incredibly valuable for our program. Every player on our team has improved individually in multiple areas of their game, now, it’s time to compete and have some fun.”
On the Charlotte 49ers…
“We are thrilled to hit the road for the Queen City. Charlotte is a good team that is going to push us to perform; which is why I am happy to play them at their place.”
Ojeda begins her sixth-year as Tennessee’s head coach. The Lady Vol For Life has 129 wins in her career and 84 as UT’s head coach.
SCOUTING THE 49ERS
Charlotte will also be playing its season opener Friday, the 49ers were supposed to host App State and Charleston Southern last Sunday, Jan. 16, but due to weather both matches were postponed.
Charlotte is led by Anthony Davison who is in his fourth year at his alma mater. Since he took over the program in June 2018, Charlotte is 28-1 at home.
The 49ers return five 10-win singles players, including their top performer, Rocio Safont, who went 18-3 a season ago. Last year’s No. 1 slotted player, Ruxi Schech, also returns for the 49ers.
Charlotte posted a 21-7 record a season ago and finished the year ranked No. 53 in the Oracle/ITA Collegiate Tennis Rankings. The 49ers won a program-record 16 matches at home and earned the No. 4 seed in the Conference USA tournament, their highest as a league member.
RANK ‘EM
Three Lady Vols are ranked in the most recent ITA singles charts. Senior Rebeka Mertena tops the list at No. 14. McGiffin filed in at No. 41 while Elza Tomase is No. 56. Each ranking is the highest for the three singles players.
The duo of McGiffin and Olivia Symons are ranked No. 39 in the ITA doubles rankings. It is Symons’ first appearance in the rankings, while McGiffin reached a career-best eighth in February 2020.
LET’S GET IT STARTED (HA), LET’S GET IT STARTED (IN HERE)!
Tennessee is 34-11 in program history in season openers. The Lady Vols have only been a true road team twice since 2010, winning both matches. Tennessee has also opened the season on a neutral court twice since 2010.
SAME GUY, NEW TITLE
Jarryd Chaplin enters his third year on Rocky Top and was promoted to Associate Head Coach in June of 2021.
ALL-TIME SERIES
The match will mark the first ever meeting between the Lady Vols and 49ers.
UP NEXT
The Lady Vols continue their weekend in the Tar Heel State as they travel north to Winston-Salem, N.C. to take on Wake Forest Sunday, Jan. 23, at 11 a.m. If Tennessee falls to the Demon Deacons, it will face Davidson at 3 p.m.