No. 13 Lady Vols Power Past No. 15 Pepperdine, 4-3″

“No. 13 Lady Vols Power Past No. 15 Pepperdine, 4-3″

 

The No. 13 Tennessee Lady Vols tennis team secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over the No. 15 Pepperdine Waves on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.

 

The Lady Vols, who improved to 6-2 overall, were led by a strong performance from their singles players. Tennessee’s Dariya Radulova, Rebeka Mertena, and Johanna Silva all earned victories in their respective singles matches.

 

Radulova, a freshman from Ukraine, got the Lady Vols off to a strong start with a convincing 6-2, 6-1 win over Pepperdine’s Shiori Fukuda. Radulova’s victory marked her fifth straight singles win and improved her overall record to 8-2.

 

Mertena, a sophomore from Latvia, followed Radulova’s win with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-4 victory over Pepperdine’s Ashley Lahey. Mertena’s win was her fourth straight in singles competition and improved her overall record to 9-3.

 

Silva, a junior from Brazil, rounded out the Lady Vols’ singles victories with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Pepperdine’s Jessica Failla. Silva’s victory marked her sixth straight singles win and improved her overall record to 10-2.

 

The Lady Vols also earned a crucial doubles point, courtesy of the duo of Radulova and Silva. The pair defeated Pepperdine’s Fukuda and Lahey, 6-4, in the No. 1 doubles match.

 

“We’re really proud of our team for coming out and competing the way they did today,” said Lady Vols head coach Alison Ojeda. “Pepperdine is a great team, and we knew it was going to be a tough match. But our players stepped up and made some big shots when it mattered most.”

 

The Waves, who fell to 5-3 overall, were led by a strong performance from their No. 1 singles player, Ashley Lahey. Lahey, a senior from California, earned a 6-4, 6-2 win over Tennessee’s Kelsey Croy.

 

Despite the loss, Pepperdine head coach Per Nilsson was proud of his team’s effort. “Tennessee is a great team, and we knew it was going to be a tough match,” Nilsson said. “But our players fought hard and gave it their all. We just came up a little short in the end.”

 

The Lady Vols will look to build on their momentum when they host the No. 25 Texas A&M Aggies on Friday, March 3. The match is set to begin at 3 p.m. ET at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.

 

“Tennessee’s Singles Players Shine”

 

The Lady Vols’ singles players were the stars of the show on Saturday, earning four victories in their respective matches. Radulova, Mertena, and Silva all earned straight-set wins, while Croy pushed Lahey to two sets before ultimately falling.

 

Tennessee’s singles players have been a strength all season, with Radulova, Mertena, and Silva all boasting impressive winning percentages.

 

“Our singles players have been doing a great job all season,” Ojeda said. “They’re competing hard and making some big shots when it matters most. We’re really proud of them.”

 

“Doubles Point Proves Crucial”

 

The Lady Vols’ doubles point proved to be a crucial factor in their victory over Pepperdine. Radulova and Silva’s 6-4 win over Fukuda and Lahey in the No. 1 doubles match gave Tennessee a 1-0 lead heading into singles competition.

 

The doubles point has been a key factor in many of the Lady Vols’ matches this season. Tennessee has earned the doubles point in five of its eight matches, and has gone on to win four of those five matches.

 

“Our doubles teams have been doing a great job all season,” Ojeda said. “They’re competing hard and making some big shots when it matters most. The doubles point is always crucial, and we’re glad we were able to earn it today.”