University of Memphis Athletics
Friday, April 23
Orlando, Fla. / USTA National Campus
7:30 a.m.
University of Memphis
1
vs
4
Tulsa
Photo by: American Athletic Conference
Tigers end season in AAC Tournament
Apr 23, 2021 | Women's Tennis
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Memphis Tigers' season came to a close Friday afternoon with a 4-1 loss to No. 46 Tulsa in the quarterfinals of the 2021 American Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship in Orlando, Fla.
Sixth-seeded Memphis (6-14) got off to a solid start, winning two doubles matches to secure the day's first point, but third-seeded Tulsa (14-6) won four-straight singles points to wrap up the match.
In doubles, Memphis' top team of Sophie Abrams/Aran Teixido Garcia picked up a 6-3 win, and the number-two team of Katherine Cao/Alisha Reayer won their match, 6-2.
Additionally, Abrams went up against 88th-ranked Martina Okalova in the first singles position and battled to three sets before falling, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
"Today marked the end of the most unusual season I have ever been involved in since I started coaching tennis," Tigers head coach Hayden Perez said. "The amount of stress, change and adversity this team faced throughout the year was unprecedented. I'm not sure the general public realizes how many COVID tests we took this year, the changes to our normal routine and the amount of safety precautions we took in order to even complete our season. We were fortunate enough to make it through the season without having to cancel any matches.
"As a program we focused a lot on having gratitude for everything and understanding that we were fortunate to be competing at all. Every time we played was 'a win' no matter the actual result.
"I am proud of this group and looking forward to next year already!
"A huge thank you to my boss, Andrew Roberts, for his patience and willingness to help throughout the year. I am super thankful for the entire Memphis sports medicine staff for all they did to help us complete this year.
"Thank you to all our supporters, near and far, big and small. Your support is always appreciated!
"Lastly, a big, big thank you to Ryan Haymond. He is an absolute rockstar, and I am grateful for all he did to help the team this year. His dedication to this program and its success is second-to-none. You will not find a better assistant coach out there, period."
Results
Singles
1. #88 Martina Okalova (TLS) def. #79 Sophie Abrams (MEM) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
2. Laia Monfort (TLS) def. Aran Teixido Garcia (MEM) 6-3, 6-4
3. Shura Poppe (TLS) vs. Laura Bente (MEM) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0, unfinished
4. Vera Ploner (TLS) def. Camila Soares (MEM) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
5. Valeriya Rozenkova (TLS) def. Alisha Reayer (MEM) 6-1, 6-0
6. Lian Benedejcic (TLS) vs. Katherine Cao (MEM) 6-3, 6-6 (5-6), unfinished
Doubles
1. Sophie Abrams/Aran Teixido Garcia (MEM) def. #88 Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner (TLS) 6-3
2. Katherine Cao/Alisha Reayer (MEM) def. Shura Poppe/Valeriya Rozenkova (TLS) 6-2
3. Laia Monfort/Megan Hopton (TLS) vs. Dolavee Tumthong/Camila Soares (MEM) 4-4, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,2,1,4)
Sixth-seeded Memphis (6-14) got off to a solid start, winning two doubles matches to secure the day's first point, but third-seeded Tulsa (14-6) won four-straight singles points to wrap up the match.
In doubles, Memphis' top team of Sophie Abrams/Aran Teixido Garcia picked up a 6-3 win, and the number-two team of Katherine Cao/Alisha Reayer won their match, 6-2.
Additionally, Abrams went up against 88th-ranked Martina Okalova in the first singles position and battled to three sets before falling, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.
"Today marked the end of the most unusual season I have ever been involved in since I started coaching tennis," Tigers head coach Hayden Perez said. "The amount of stress, change and adversity this team faced throughout the year was unprecedented. I'm not sure the general public realizes how many COVID tests we took this year, the changes to our normal routine and the amount of safety precautions we took in order to even complete our season. We were fortunate enough to make it through the season without having to cancel any matches.
"As a program we focused a lot on having gratitude for everything and understanding that we were fortunate to be competing at all. Every time we played was 'a win' no matter the actual result.
"I am proud of this group and looking forward to next year already!
"A huge thank you to my boss, Andrew Roberts, for his patience and willingness to help throughout the year. I am super thankful for the entire Memphis sports medicine staff for all they did to help us complete this year.
"Thank you to all our supporters, near and far, big and small. Your support is always appreciated!
"Lastly, a big, big thank you to Ryan Haymond. He is an absolute rockstar, and I am grateful for all he did to help the team this year. His dedication to this program and its success is second-to-none. You will not find a better assistant coach out there, period."
Results
Singles
1. #88 Martina Okalova (TLS) def. #79 Sophie Abrams (MEM) 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
2. Laia Monfort (TLS) def. Aran Teixido Garcia (MEM) 6-3, 6-4
3. Shura Poppe (TLS) vs. Laura Bente (MEM) 4-6, 6-4, 1-0, unfinished
4. Vera Ploner (TLS) def. Camila Soares (MEM) 7-6 (7-3), 7-5
5. Valeriya Rozenkova (TLS) def. Alisha Reayer (MEM) 6-1, 6-0
6. Lian Benedejcic (TLS) vs. Katherine Cao (MEM) 6-3, 6-6 (5-6), unfinished
Doubles
1. Sophie Abrams/Aran Teixido Garcia (MEM) def. #88 Martina Okalova/Vera Ploner (TLS) 6-3
2. Katherine Cao/Alisha Reayer (MEM) def. Shura Poppe/Valeriya Rozenkova (TLS) 6-2
3. Laia Monfort/Megan Hopton (TLS) vs. Dolavee Tumthong/Camila Soares (MEM) 4-4, unfinished
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1); Singles (5,2,1,4)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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