Perez Clinches Thriller in Knoxville, 4-3

Sunday, March 17

Knoxville, Tenn.

11:00 AM

Texas A&M

Tennessee

Mar 17, 2024 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Sam Thornton, Athletics Communications

KNOXVILLE – No. 14 Texas A&M's Lucciana Perez clinched a nail-biting ranked win for the Aggies versus No. 22 Tennessee, 4-3, Sunday afternoon at Barksdale Stadium.

Perez was the hero for the Maroon & White (13-6, 5-1 SEC), as the freshman battled point-for-point with Tennessee's (11-4, 3-3 SEC) No. 121 Catherine Aulia to secure the match win, 4-3. She won the opening set of the match 7-5, and the Lady Vol struck back in the second with a set of her own, 6-3. Coming down to the final match in the third-set tiebreaker, Perez held her nerve and secured the frame and match for Texas A&M, 7-6(7).

The Aggies faced an early deficit at the start of doubles play, as the Lady Vols claimed court 2. Sydney Fitch/Nicole Khirin answered back on court 3, as the duo bested Eleonora Molinaro/Lauren Anzalotta (6-4). Court 1 went the distance, and the Maroon & White came up just short losing in a tiebreaker (7-6(5).

In need of a response, No. 17 Khirin and Jeanette Mireles did just that. Khirin downed Alana Wolfberg in straight sets on court 2 (6-4, 6-3), while Mireles gave A&M the lead in the match dominating Eleonora Molinaro on court 6 (6-2, 6-2), 2-1.

Tennessee leveled the match at two, as they took court 5. The remaining three matches all entered third sets and it was the Aggies who struck again, as No. 1 Mary Stoiana got back to her winning ways in singles play. She outlasted the Lady Vols' No. 27 Sofia Cabezas on court 1 (6-3, 4-6, 6-3), giving the Maroon & White the advantage, 3-2.

Once again Tennessee tied the match on court 3 (3-3), however Perez's heroics in the third-set tiebreaker sealed the match for the Aggies and gave them their fifth conference win of the season.

COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Mark Weaver on today's match…
"I'm so proud of our group. We played the two longest matches in my coaching career that I can recall back-to-back, facing a lot of adversity on the way and we handled it all like champions. Tennessee has a very good team and to come out with a win under some tough circumstances was great for us. I couldn't be prouder of our group. We're looking forward to being home this coming weekend and playing in front of the 12^th Man."

Up Next
The Aggies return home to host Vanderbilt Friday, followed by Kentucky on Sunday, first serves are set for 5 p.m. and 12 p.m., respectively.

Match Results
Singles Results
(TAMU) No. 1 Mary Stoiana Def. (TENN) No. 27 Sofia Cabezas – 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
(TAMU) No. 17 Nicole Khirin Def. (TENN) Alana Wolfberg – 6-4, 6-3
(TENN) Elza Tomase Def. (TAMU) No. 30 Mia Kupres – 7-5, 2-6, 7-5
(TAMU) Lucciana Perez Def. (TENN) No. 121 Catherine Aulia – 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7)
(TENN) Lauren Anzalotta Def. (TAMU) Daria Smetannikov – 6-4, 7-5
(TAMU) Jeanette Mireles Def. (TENN) Eleonora Molinaro – 6-2, 6-2

Doubles Results
(TENN) No. 57 Elza Tomase/ Sofia Cabezas Def. (TAMU) No. 6 Mary Stoiana/Mia Kupres – 7-6(5)
(TENN) No. 51 Esther Adeshina/Alana Wolfberg Def. (TAMU) Lucciana Perez/Jeanette Mireles – 6-2
(TAMU) Sydney Fitch/Nicole Khirin Def. (TENN) Eleonora Molinaro/Lauren Anzalotta – 6-4

FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and on X by following @AggieWTEN.