#12 Oklahoma is defeated 4-3 by the #8 Lady Vols Singles Surge.

NORMAN, Okla. – The eighth-ranked Tennessee women’s tennis team secured its fourth top-15 victory of the season, defeating No. 12 Oklahoma 4-3, on Sunday afternoon at Headington Family Tennis Center.

‘What a match,” head coach Alison Ojeda said. “Oklahoma is good. Every time we step on the court, we know we are going to battle out wins and that’s exactly what we did today.”

Tennessee (11-3, 5-2 SEC) showed a strong presence in doubles, grabbing the 1-0 lead against Oklahoma (11-4, 4-3 SEC) to start the contest. The No. 52-ranked pairing of Catherine Aulia and Leyla Britez Risso secured a 6-3 advantage against Salakthip Ounmuang and Chloe Noeal. Elza Tomase and Maeve Thornton locked up the doubles point with a 6-3 victory over Aline Shcherbinina and Julia Garcia Ruiz. Conley Raidt and Saray Yli-Piipari were in the midst of a comeback, trailing 3-5 against Ava Catanzarite and Gloriana Nahum, when play halted.

Singles was a back-and-forth battle, with the Lady Vols ultimately gaining the upper hand. Thornton could not hold off Ava Catanzarite, falling 2-6, 1-6 to level the match at one. No. 103 Britez Risso registered a 6-3, 7-6(4) triumph against Salakthip Ounmang, 6-3, 7-6(4) to make the score 2-1.

“Leyla is tough as nails and showed why again today,” Ojeda added. “She continues to improve every time she plays!”

Raidt could not fend off No. 98 Gloriana Nahum, dropping her affair 1-6, 7-6(2), 2-6, making the match even at two apiece. Francesca Mattioli pushed the Lady Vols ahead with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 decision against No. 74 Emma Staker, before No. 8 Tomase dropped a three-set affair against No. 34 Alina Shcherbinna, 6-2, 4-6, 6-7 (2).

“Francesca…wow,” Ojeda stated. “We’ve learned quickly she’s willing to embrace adversity and be tough in the face of it!”

No. 36 Aulia clinched the match against No. 17 Julia Garcia Ruiz in a thrilling three-set affair, 6-4, 7-6(6), 7-5. The victory marked Aulia’s highest-ranked takedown thus far.

“What I love most about today is Catherine coming coming back from 2-5 down in the 3rd set,” Ojeda added. “The reason I’m so proud of her is because when everything is on the line, she trusts herself and performs at a high level. She loves being in those moments and she just kept at it, one point at a time.”

Up Next: Tennessee will return home to face Alabama on Friday. The match is slated for 5 p.m. and will be played outdoors at Barksdale Stadium.