University of Tennessee Athletics
Doubles Duos Lead the Way, Yan Debuts in ITA Rankings Update
November 25, 2025 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – All seven members of the Tennessee women's tennis team earned either a singles or doubles ranking in ITA's Nov. 25 rankings update, including three doubles pairs slotting into the nation's top 40 duos.
"Our roster is solid and comes to practice every day ready to do the work that it takes to get better," Ojeda said of her team. "This is the first time since I've been back at Tennessee that all three doubles pairings are ranked. That will prove to be valuable come spring season when the doubles point feels like a sprint, compared to two out of three sets."
The Lady Vol doubles pairings are led by the senior tandem of Catherine Aulia and Leyla Britez Risso, which now ranks as the No. 15 pairing in the nation. The duo reached the final of the ITA Regionals doubles bracket this fall, and was selected as an alternate for the NCAA individual tournament. The duo went 7-4 in ITA event matches this fall, and their deep tournament runs earned them an improvement of two spots in the rankings.
Francesca Mattioli and Maeve Thornton make their rankings debut as a pair, slotting in at No. 25 in the nation in their first appearance. The pair debuted at the ITA Regional in Knoxville, where they showed immediate court chemistry and dominated their way to the regional semifinal before taking the then-No. 12 pairing in the nation to three sets in the semifinal match. They were then selected as the SEC Representative in the ITA Conference Masters Championships.
The new No. 36 pairing of Vanesa Suarez and Saray Yli-Piipari, both of which were previously ranked alongside other teammates, emerged to national relevance this summer, winning ITA's National Summer Championships. The duo made respectable runs in the ITA All-American and Regional fields, before ultimately earning a selection to ITA Sectionals and winning that event's consolation bracket.
Britez Risso slots in as the Lady Vols top-ranked singles player and the No. 26 player in the country. Her exceptional fall performances moved her up eight spots from her preseason ranking. She reached the semifinals and third-place match at ITA Regionals, and then went to the quarterfinals and playoff semifinals at ITA Sectionals, before ultimately being named an alternate for the NCAA individual singles tournament.
Elim Yan's selection as the nation's No. 82 singles player marks her first time making the solos list. The selection comes after a breakout fall slate for the Australian, who went 4-1 at the All-American Championships, advancing out of the pre-qualifying draw in her first competition of the season. She went on to make a run to the round of 16 at the ITA Regionals and ultimately compiled a 7-4 record on the season. She competed in singles for the Lady Vols just four times last dual season.
"Yesterday we had a team meeting, and I asked the girls to summarize their fall," Ojeda said. "Elim very eloquently said, 'I've hit more balls this fall than I ever have in my life.'
"Elim put in so much work with Martim [Prata] and Robin [Goodman] this fall, to embrace our team's motto of 'one more ball.' When you have that mindset and are also fast, you're going to find yourself in a lot of competitive matches. That's exactly what she's done, and she's earned the ranking she has. I'm happy for her and our team is proud of the work she puts in."
Lady Vols in the ITA Rankings
Singles
No. 26 – Leyla Britez Risso
No. 82 – Elim Yan
Doubles
No. 15 – Catherine Aulia / Leyla Britez Risso
No. 25 – Francesca Mattioli / Maeve Thornton
No. 36 – Vanesa Suarez / Saray Yli-Piipari
"Our roster is solid and comes to practice every day ready to do the work that it takes to get better," Ojeda said of her team. "This is the first time since I've been back at Tennessee that all three doubles pairings are ranked. That will prove to be valuable come spring season when the doubles point feels like a sprint, compared to two out of three sets."
The Lady Vol doubles pairings are led by the senior tandem of Catherine Aulia and Leyla Britez Risso, which now ranks as the No. 15 pairing in the nation. The duo reached the final of the ITA Regionals doubles bracket this fall, and was selected as an alternate for the NCAA individual tournament. The duo went 7-4 in ITA event matches this fall, and their deep tournament runs earned them an improvement of two spots in the rankings.
Francesca Mattioli and Maeve Thornton make their rankings debut as a pair, slotting in at No. 25 in the nation in their first appearance. The pair debuted at the ITA Regional in Knoxville, where they showed immediate court chemistry and dominated their way to the regional semifinal before taking the then-No. 12 pairing in the nation to three sets in the semifinal match. They were then selected as the SEC Representative in the ITA Conference Masters Championships.
The new No. 36 pairing of Vanesa Suarez and Saray Yli-Piipari, both of which were previously ranked alongside other teammates, emerged to national relevance this summer, winning ITA's National Summer Championships. The duo made respectable runs in the ITA All-American and Regional fields, before ultimately earning a selection to ITA Sectionals and winning that event's consolation bracket.
Britez Risso slots in as the Lady Vols top-ranked singles player and the No. 26 player in the country. Her exceptional fall performances moved her up eight spots from her preseason ranking. She reached the semifinals and third-place match at ITA Regionals, and then went to the quarterfinals and playoff semifinals at ITA Sectionals, before ultimately being named an alternate for the NCAA individual singles tournament.
Elim Yan's selection as the nation's No. 82 singles player marks her first time making the solos list. The selection comes after a breakout fall slate for the Australian, who went 4-1 at the All-American Championships, advancing out of the pre-qualifying draw in her first competition of the season. She went on to make a run to the round of 16 at the ITA Regionals and ultimately compiled a 7-4 record on the season. She competed in singles for the Lady Vols just four times last dual season.
"Yesterday we had a team meeting, and I asked the girls to summarize their fall," Ojeda said. "Elim very eloquently said, 'I've hit more balls this fall than I ever have in my life.'
"Elim put in so much work with Martim [Prata] and Robin [Goodman] this fall, to embrace our team's motto of 'one more ball.' When you have that mindset and are also fast, you're going to find yourself in a lot of competitive matches. That's exactly what she's done, and she's earned the ranking she has. I'm happy for her and our team is proud of the work she puts in."
Lady Vols in the ITA Rankings
Singles
No. 26 – Leyla Britez Risso
No. 82 – Elim Yan
Doubles
No. 15 – Catherine Aulia / Leyla Britez Risso
No. 25 – Francesca Mattioli / Maeve Thornton
No. 36 – Vanesa Suarez / Saray Yli-Piipari
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
