Lady Vols tennis off to best start since 2001

The University of Tennessee women’s tennis team is off to its best start since 2001 after a 6-1 victory over Yale on Sunday at the Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center.

The Lady Vols, 6-1 and ranked No. 22 in the country, won the doubles point for the third match in a row, then closed out the match with singles victories at Nos 4, 3 and 2.

“Yale is a quality team with some very talented players, so we are very happy to have been able to come away with the victory,” UT co-head coach Mike Patrick said. “I thought everyone on our team competed well and showed signs of continued improvement. We were able to generate some momentum with a couple of good wins this weekend, but we need to carry that over into our practices over the next 11 days as we get ready to start our SEC schedule.”

The victory against No. 45 Yale (6-3) gives the Lady Vols their best start since the 2001 team went 14-1 and reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA tournament.

The Lady Vols return to the court March 6 to open SEC play at home against Mississippi State, then play host to Ole Miss on March 8.

SINGLES

1. Janet Kim (Yale) def. No. 45 Caitlin Whoriskey (Tennessee) – 6-7 (4), 7-5, 1-0 (14)

2. Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee) def. Jessica Rhee (Yale) – 7-6 (6), 6-4

3. Samantha Orlin (Tennessee) def. Victoria Brook (Yale) – 6-2, 6-4

4. Rosalía Alda (Tennessee) def. Stevi Petrelli (Yale) – 6-2, 6-2

5. Zsófia Zubor (Tennessee) def. Lindsay Clark (Yale) – 6-3, 6-3

6. Jennifer Meredith (Tennessee) def. Sarah Lederhandler (Yale) – 3-6, 6-1, 1-0 (4)

DOUBLES

1. Caitlin Whoriskey/Natalie Pluskota (Tennessee) def. Janet Kim/Jessica Rhee (Yale) – 8-6

2. Lindsay Clark/Victoria Brook (Yale) def. Rosalía Alda/Jennifer Meredith (Tennessee) – 8-6

3. Maria Sorbello/Zsófia Zubor (Tennessee) def. Stevi Petrelli/Sarah Lederhandler (Yale) – 8-2

Order of Finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (3,4,2*,1,5,6)