KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- No. 18 Tennessee blanks Furman, 7-0, Sunday in the season opener for both teams at the Goodfriend Tennis Center in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Vols won two out of three doubles matches to take the first point.  Alana Wolfberg and Esther Adeshina defeated freshman Maeve Thornton and junior Jess Dawson, 6-1, at flight one, while Sofia Cabezas and Elza Tomase held on for a 6-4 victory over juniors Sara Snyder and Grace Thomas at flight two.  The unfinished flight three match was tied at 5-all after junior Ellie Schulson and freshman Macy Hitchcock had battled back to overcome a 4-3 deficit versus Catherine Aulia and Lauren Anzalotta.  

In singles highlights, Furman's Thornton took 91st-ranked Wolfberg to a set two tie-breaker at flight two.  Wolfberg claimed set one, 6-0, then Thornton rebounded to push the second set to a tie-breaker, which Wolfberg won, 7-5.  At flight three, Schulson forced a tie-breaker in the opening set versus Aulia, before falling, 7-6(1), 6-4.

Tennessee posted wins in the remaining singles matches, with 92nd-ranked Cabezas defeating Snyder, 6-1, 6-1, at flight one, and No. 100 Eleonora Molinaro topping Thomas, 6-2, 6-4, at number four.  At flight five, Adeshina held off Hitchcock, 6-0, 7-5, and Anzalotta beat Dawson, 6-4, 6-4, in the flight six contest. 

Furman (0-1) will travel to Tuscaloosa Saturday to take on Alabama.  First serve is set for 11 a.m.

Furman vs. No. 18 Tennessee • 01/14/2024 at Knoxville, Tenn. • Goodfriend Indoor Tennis Center

#18 Tennessee 7, Furman 0

Singles competition

1. #92 Sofia Cabezas (TENN) def. Sara Snyder (FUR) 6-1, 6-1

2. #91 Alana Wolfberg (TENN) def. Maeve Thornton (FUR) 6-0, 7-6 (7-5) 

3. Catherine Aulia (TENN) def. Ellie Schulson (FUR) 7-6 (7-1), 6-4

4. #100 Eleonora Molinaro (TENN) def. Grace Thomas (FUR) 6-2, 6-4

5. Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Macy Hitchcock (FUR) 6-0, 7-5

6. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) def. Jess Dawson (FUR) 6-4, 6-4

Doubles competition

1. Alana Wolfberg/Esther Adeshina (TENN) def. Maeve Thornton/Jess Dawson (FUR) 6-1

2. Sofia Cabezas/Elza Tomase (TENN) def. Sara Snyder/Grace Thomas (FUR) 6-4

3. Catherine Aulia/Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) vs. Ellie Schulson/Macy Hitchcock (FUR) 5-5, unfinished

Match Notes: Furman 0-1 • Tennessee 1-0; National ranking #18

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (1,5,4,2,6,3) A-176