Lady Vols to host Women’s ITA South Sectional event

The University of Tennessee women’s tennis team is set to compete at home for the first time this season as it hosts the ITA Women’s South Sectional Championships at Barksdale Stadium beginning Thursday.

The South Sectional presents an opportunity for six singles entries and three doubles teams to punch their tickets to the NCAA Individual Championships.

“To be one of four host sites in the country and have four singles players and four doubles teams competing for a spot at NCAA’s is huge,” Tennessee head coach Alison Ojeda said.  “We will compete against a very high level of competition and I encourage tennis fans in the community to come out and support your Lady Vols as well as all the young competitors.”

The ITA Sectional Championships serve as the final opportunity for qualification to the NCAA Individual Championships. From each of the four sectionals, six singles players (semifinalists, two quarterfinal playoff winners) and three doubles teams (champion, finalist, third place) will advance to the NCAA Championships in Athens, Ga.

The south section consists of schools from the Southeast, South and Ohio Valley regions. The singles field features 32 main draw selections and the doubles draw will consist of 16 pairings. Selections were made based on results from previous ITA Fall Pathway events.

At the ITA All-American Championships, sophomore Rinon Okuwaki picked up two wins in the main singles draw. She earned automatic entry to the ITA Sectional Championships for her strong showing.At the ITA Ohio Valley Regional, three freshmen—Lisa Kamigata, Sarah Mildren and Alyson Shannon–played well for Tennessee.

Kamigata posted five straight wins to escape the qualifying draw and reach the regional quarterfinal. Mildren and Shannon combined to a run to the regional doubles final, falling just short of a bid to the NCAA Individual Championships. Kamigata and Shannon have each earned spots in the singles draw at the South Sectional, and Shannon will rejoin Mildren to compete in the doubles bracket.

As the host institution, Tennessee was awarded a wild card in both draws, which were subsequently awarded to Francesca Mattoli and Stefani Webb in doubles, and to Mattioli in singles. Both have competed together in a number of professional competitions this fall and the south sectional will be the first collegiate competition of the season for each.

Mattioli, a junior, made strides last season particularly in doubles, as she and Vanesa Suarez manned court one for the Lady Vols during the dual season. In singles, she posted a 9-6 singles record, splitting time on courts four and five.

Webb, transfer from reigning SEC champion Auburn, will compete for the Lady Vols for the first time.