University of Tennessee Team Page

By: Lindsey Williford, Media Relations Graduate Assistant

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Despite a major scare in the quarterfinals of doubles play, the Tennessee duo of senior Caitlin Whoriskey and sophomore Natalie Pluskota managed a big comeback to advance to the semifinal round at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Indoor National Championships Friday morning in New Haven, Conn.

DePaul’s Anna Redecsi and Selma Salkovic took early control of the match, looking poised for the upset. The pair jumped out to a 5-1 lead over the Lady Vols before going 1-2 in the next three games. With the score set at 3-6, Whoriskey and Pluskota began their comeback.

The UT tandem claimed five straight wins for the 8-6 match victory to stay alive at the Indoor Nationals. Looking to break the Orange and White’s eight–match unbeaten streak this fall, however, is the 36th-ranked Miami (Fla.) pairing of Gabriella Mejia and Laura Vallverdu. The two teams will battle it out in the semifinals Saturday at 9 a.m.

Following the completion of the doubles match, Whoriskey took to the court again for singles against No. 23 Lenka Broosova from Baylor.  Whoriskey grabbed set one, 6-3, but her hopes for a second-straight ITA singles title ended after Broosova won sets two and three, 6-3, 6-2, respectively.

Doubles action will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday with live stats available on the ITA website at

http://www.itatennis.com/Events/ITANationalChampionships/NationalIndoors

 

FRIDAY RESULTS

 

DOUBLES (Quarterfinals)

(1) No. 7 Caitlin Whoriskey/Natalie Pluskota (UT) def. Anna Redecsi/Selma Salkovic (DePaul) – 8-6

 

SINGLES (Round of 16)

No. 23 Lenka Broosova (Baylor) def. ( 5) No. 27 Caitlin Whoriskey (UT)– 6-3, 3-6, 2-6

 

SATURDAY SCHEDULE

DOUBLES (Semifinals)

No. 1 Caitlin Whoriskey/Natalie Pluskota (UT) vs. Gabriella Mejia/Laura Vallverdu (U. of Miami) - 9 a.m.