University of Tennessee Athletics
Thursday, October 23
Knoxville, Tenn.
University of Tennessee
vs
UTR PTT Knoxville
Lady Vols Set to Compete at Home in UTR Event
October 22, 2025 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee women's tennis team will compete in the UTR Pro Tennis Tour Knoxville event beginning Thursday and lasting through Sunday.
All seven Lady Vols are slated to compete in the event, which will be hosted in Tennessee's own Barksdale Tennis Stadium.
The Lady Vols are coming off of a productive weekend of competition at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals, in which they collected 25 wins across singles and doubles competition. Leyla Britez Risso Shined, advancing to the singles semifinal and the doubles final alongside Catherine Aulia. The unranked duo of Francesca Mattioli and Maeve Thornton staged a run to the doubles semifinal, with an upset victory over the No. 37 duo in the country before ultimately falling to No. 12 in the country in three sets. Aulia, Britez Risso, and Vanesa Suarez all reached the singles quarterfinals.
The tournament presents the opportunity for the Lady Vols to garner competitive reps on their home court before hitting the road for ITA Sectionals and ITA Conference Masters, both contested from Nov. 6-9.
UTR PTT Knoxville Information
The 16 person main draw will consist of 4 groups of 4 players each. The round-robin group stages will run on Thursday and Friday. Players will play 2 matches each on one of the round robin days.
The Playoff Stage will be two rounds and consist of four draws of 4 players depending on the player's group finishing (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) and will run from Saturday to Sunday. Players who win their semi-final match will advance to play in the final of their playoff bracket. Players who lose in their semi-final match will play a final match to determine 3rd and 4th place in their playoff bracket.
All matches will be best of 3 tie-break sets with regular scoring. The Main Draw will consist of 12 Direct Acceptances and 4 Wild Cards.
For the tournament schedule and results, click here.
UTR PTT Schedule – Lady Vols Entries (all times ET)
Oct. 23
Maeve Thornton (UT) vs. Joanna Kennedy – 12 p.m.
Catherine Aulia (UT) vs. Georgia Kulevich – 12 p.m.
Saray Yli-Piipari (UT) vs. Skylar Kasday – 1 p.m.
Leyla Britez Risso (UT) vs. Tatum Buffington – 3 p.m.
Elim Yan (UT) vs. Francesca Mattioli (UT) – 3 p.m.
Vanesa Suarez (UT) vs Saray Yli-Piipari (UT) – 4:30 p.m.
Catherine Aulia vs. Joanna Kennedy – 5:00 p.m.
Oct. 24
Saray Yli-Piipari (UT) vs. Amy Lee – TBD
Leyla Britez Risso (UT) vs. Catherine Rennard – TBD
Elim Yan (UT) vs. Alice Otis – TBD
Vanesa Suarez (UT) vs. Skylar Kasday – TBD
Elim Yan (UT) vs. Alex Ackman – TBD
Francesca Mattioli (UT) vs. Alex Ackman – TBD
Francesca Mattioli (UT) vs. Alice Otis – TBD
Catherine Aulia (UT) vs. Maeve Thornton (UT) – TBD
Matches and times for Saturday and Sunday are dependent on the results of group play.
All seven Lady Vols are slated to compete in the event, which will be hosted in Tennessee's own Barksdale Tennis Stadium.
The Lady Vols are coming off of a productive weekend of competition at the ITA Ohio Valley Regionals, in which they collected 25 wins across singles and doubles competition. Leyla Britez Risso Shined, advancing to the singles semifinal and the doubles final alongside Catherine Aulia. The unranked duo of Francesca Mattioli and Maeve Thornton staged a run to the doubles semifinal, with an upset victory over the No. 37 duo in the country before ultimately falling to No. 12 in the country in three sets. Aulia, Britez Risso, and Vanesa Suarez all reached the singles quarterfinals.
The tournament presents the opportunity for the Lady Vols to garner competitive reps on their home court before hitting the road for ITA Sectionals and ITA Conference Masters, both contested from Nov. 6-9.
UTR PTT Knoxville Information
The 16 person main draw will consist of 4 groups of 4 players each. The round-robin group stages will run on Thursday and Friday. Players will play 2 matches each on one of the round robin days.
The Playoff Stage will be two rounds and consist of four draws of 4 players depending on the player's group finishing (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) and will run from Saturday to Sunday. Players who win their semi-final match will advance to play in the final of their playoff bracket. Players who lose in their semi-final match will play a final match to determine 3rd and 4th place in their playoff bracket.
All matches will be best of 3 tie-break sets with regular scoring. The Main Draw will consist of 12 Direct Acceptances and 4 Wild Cards.
For the tournament schedule and results, click here.
UTR PTT Schedule – Lady Vols Entries (all times ET)
Oct. 23
Maeve Thornton (UT) vs. Joanna Kennedy – 12 p.m.
Catherine Aulia (UT) vs. Georgia Kulevich – 12 p.m.
Saray Yli-Piipari (UT) vs. Skylar Kasday – 1 p.m.
Leyla Britez Risso (UT) vs. Tatum Buffington – 3 p.m.
Elim Yan (UT) vs. Francesca Mattioli (UT) – 3 p.m.
Vanesa Suarez (UT) vs Saray Yli-Piipari (UT) – 4:30 p.m.
Catherine Aulia vs. Joanna Kennedy – 5:00 p.m.
Oct. 24
Saray Yli-Piipari (UT) vs. Amy Lee – TBD
Leyla Britez Risso (UT) vs. Catherine Rennard – TBD
Elim Yan (UT) vs. Alice Otis – TBD
Vanesa Suarez (UT) vs. Skylar Kasday – TBD
Elim Yan (UT) vs. Alex Ackman – TBD
Francesca Mattioli (UT) vs. Alex Ackman – TBD
Francesca Mattioli (UT) vs. Alice Otis – TBD
Catherine Aulia (UT) vs. Maeve Thornton (UT) – TBD
Matches and times for Saturday and Sunday are dependent on the results of group play.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
Everything Orange S2 I Catherine Aulia (Women's Tennis)
Thursday, March 20
WTN | Alison Ojeda and Sofia Cabezas Postgame vs. UCLA (5.18.24)
Saturday, May 18
WTN | Alison Ojeda and Lauren Anzalotta Media Availability (5.15.24)
Wednesday, May 15
Everything Orange | Alison Ojeda (Women's Tennis)
Thursday, January 18
