No. 12 Buckeyes Down No. 22 Tennessee 4-2 to Advance to ITA Indoors

Results

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 12 Ohio State women’s tennis team is heading to Seattle for the ITA National Team Indoor Championship after defeating No. 22 Tennessee, 4-2, in the ITA Kickoff Weekend Columbus championship match Saturday in the Ty Tucker Tennis Center.

The Buckeyes, now 3-0 on the year, took a 1-0 lead vs. Tennessee with the doubles point, as the tandems of Kolie Allen and Kathleen Jones and Irina Cantos Siemers and Akanksha Bhan were victorious. In singles, Shelly Bereznyak posted a straight-set win and Lucia Marzal prevailed in three sets for a 3-0 Ohio State lead. The Lady Vols won the next two team points, leaving two matches on court, both in a third set. Kolie Allen clinched Ohio State’s win with a victory on court four.

This marks the seventh time in the last eight years – including five seasons in a row – Ohio State has won two ITA Kickoff Weekend matches to reach the ITA National Team Indoor Championship. The 2023 edition will be held in Seattle, Wash., Feb. 10-13.

Quoting Coach Melissa Schaub

“We really had to dig deep today and I’m so proud of our team and our effort out there. We have some veterans that stepped up big in the important moments. It wasn’t always pretty or our best, but we were tough. Our backs were against the wall tonight and being at home and having our fans cheering us on really helped pull us through!”

In Doubles

The Buckeyes posted two quick wins in doubles to take the all-important 1-0 lead vs. the Lady Vols.
On court three Kolie Allen and Kathleen Jones picked up their second win of the weekend, as they defeated Elza Tomase and Lauren Anzalotta, 6-2. On court three, the Buckeyes jumped out to a 5-0 lead before back-to-back games for Tennessee made it 5-2, but Ohio State broke for the win.
The Ohio State duo of Irina Cantos Siemers and Akanksha Bhan clinched the doubles point, downing Esther Adeshina and Rebeka Mertena, 6-3, for their second ITA Kickoff Weekend victory. The Buckeyes won the final three games in the match, clinching on the no-ad point.

In Singles

Shelly Bereznyak put the Buckeyes up 2-0, downing Lauren Anzalotta in straight sets on court five, 6-2, 6-1.
Lucia Marzal followed with a victory over Esther Adeshina on court six for a 3-0 Ohio State lead. The Buckeye down the first set, 6-2, before dropping the second 6-1. In the third, the Lady Vol went ahead 2-0 with a hold and a break. Marzal did not lose a game the rest of the way to take the set and the match.
Tennessee won on courts two and one for a 3-2 team score. Both matches went to a tiebreaker in the first set and ended with a 6-2 second-set score.
The final two matches on court were in a third set, with Ohio State needing one of the two to clinch the team victory. Both Buckeyes rallied after losing the first set to force a third.
Kolie Allen notched the Buckeyes’ fourth team point, prevailing on court four against Eleonora Molinaro. Allen lost the first, 6-4, but rolled in the second, 6-1. In the third, Allen was down a break early but fought to get back on serve at three-all. The Buckeye held for a 6-5 lead and closed out the match with a break to clinch the team win.
On court three, Irina Cantos Siemers fell 6-1 in the first set against Daria Kuczer and was down in the second before winning the final four games to take the set, 6-4. The Buckeye was ahead 3-2 when the match was abandoned.
Allen and Marzal were both 2-0 in singles this weekend to lead the Buckeyes.

Up Next

Ohio State will host two matches next week, taking on No. 14 Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. Thursday and No. 6 Georgia at noon Saturday. Admission and parking are free for the matches, which will be inside the Ty Tucker Tennis Center.

TFW you punch your ticket to #ITAIndoors #GoBucks @ITA_Tennis @kolieallen pic.twitter.com/kjNbnocc6h

— Ohio State Women’s Tennis (@OhioStateWTEN) January 29, 2023

The Results
Tennessee vs Ohio State
Jan 28 at Columbus, Ohio
(Ty Tucker Tennis Center)

#12 Ohio State 4, #22 Tennessee 2

Singles competition
1. #76 Rebeka Mertena (TENN) def. #15 Sydni Ratliff (OSU) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
2. #68 Elza Tomase (TENN) def. Isabelle Boulais (OSU) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
3. #30 Irina Cantos Siemers (OSU) vs. #55 Daria Kuczer (TENN) 1-6, 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
4. #116 Kolie Allen (OSU) def. Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) 4-6, 6-1, 7-5
5. Shelly Bereznyak (OSU) def. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) 6-2, 6-1
6. Lucia Marzal (OSU) def. Esther Adeshina (TENN) 6-2, 1-6, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Sydni Ratliff/Isabelle Boulais (OSU) vs. Eleonora Molinaro/Daria Kuczer (TENN) 4-4, unfinished
2. Irina Cantos Siemers/Akanksha Bhan (OSU) def. Esther Adeshina/Rebeka Mertena (TENN) 6-3
3. Kolie Allen/Kathleen Jones (OSU) def. Elza Tomase/Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) 6-2

Match Notes:
Tennessee 1-1; National ranking #22
Ohio State 3-0; National ranking #12
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (5,6,2,1,4)
ITA Kickoff Weekend Championship
Official: Julio Colon T-2:52