College Tennis News - Lady Vol Tennis Downs Ohio State 6-1 The win marked the 13th straight over the Buckeyes in the series

KNOXVILLE - The No. 25 University of Tennessee women's tennis team improved to 2-0 at home with a resounding 6-1 victory over No. 55 Ohio State Sunday at the Goodfriend Tennis Center.

The Lady Vols (2-4) won their 13th straight match and remained perfect at home (7-0), improving to 16-1 all-time against the Buckeyes (4-3) with the win.

"This match was good for the team," said co-head coach Mike Patrick. "They fought hard today and battled at every position. It was good to see the experienced players playing like they should and the younger players fighting."

For the second time this season, and the second time against a Big 10 school, the Lady Vols captured the doubles point. The nation's third-ranked team of Brynn Boren and Kata Szekely was the first to finish taking an 8-2 win from Kara Cecil and Noelle Malley. The win was the 25th of the season for the duo and their fifth straight in dual match action.

Capturing the doubles point were Sarah Toti and Mimi Fotopoulos with an 8-2 win over Fida Manashirova and Kelsey Dieters. The win marked Toti's first victory since returning from her ACL tear and was a big one to put the Lady Vols up 1-0 early.

Szekely gave the Lady Vols a 2-0 lead earning a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles. The No. 34 ranked senior dropped the first three games of the match, but rallied off six straight games for the first set win. She triumphed in 12 of the final 14 games of the match to come away with the win.

It was the Lady Vol freshmen who sealed the victory as Tiffany Tavares battled to a 7-5, 6-2 win over Noelle Malley to earn the third point of the match, while her classmate Mimi Fotopoulos rolled to a 6-3, 6-0 win over her opponent Grainne O'Neill just minutes later to seal the win.

Adding to the total was sophomore Caitlyn Williams who finished out her 6-3, 7-5 win with a huge forehand down the line and past Gabby Steele to give the Lady Vols a 5-0 edge in the match.

Fellow sophomore Joanna Henderson tallied the sixth point of the match for the Lady Vols coming from behind in the second set tie-break to earn a 6-4, 7-6 (8) victory over No. 93 Manashirova, and her first-ever win over a ranked opponent in her UT career.

Ohio State earned its lone point of the day as No. 52 Kelsey Dieters came back in a third set tiebreak besting No. 18 Brynn Boren 6-4, 2-6, 1-0 (10) to squelch the shutout bid.

The Lady Vols will have the upcoming weekend off and will return to action with SEC play beginning on March 2 when the Georgia Bulldogs come to Knoxville for a Noon meeting with Tennessee.

Tennis Match Results
Ohio State vs Tennessee

Feb 17, 2013 at Knoxville, Tenn.
(Goodfriend Tennis Center)
#25 Tennessee 6, #55 Ohio State 1

Singles competition
1. #52 Kelsey Dieters (OSU) def. #18 Brynn Boren (UT) 6-4, 2-5, 1-0 (12-10)
2. #34 Kata Szekely (UT) def. Kara Cecil (OSU) 6-3, 6-2
3. Caitlyn Williams (UT) def. Gabby Steele (OSU) 6-3, 7-5
4. Joanna Henderson (UT) def. #93 Fidan Manashirova (OSU) 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
5. Mimi Fotopoulos (UT) def. Grainne O'Neill (OSU) 6-3, 6-0
6. Tiffany Tavares (UT) def. Noelle Malley (OSU) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #3 Brynn Boren/Kata Szekely (UT) def. Kara Cecil/Noelle Malley (OSU) 8-2
2. Gabby Steele/Grainne O'Neill (OSU) def. Joanna Henderson/Caitlyn Williams (UT) 8-5
3. Sarah Toti/Mimi Fotopoulos (UT) def. Fidan Manashirova/Kelsey Dieters (OSU) 8-2

Match Notes:
Ohio State 4-3; National ranking #55
Tennessee 2-4; National ranking #25
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,6,5,3,4,1)