#19 Lady Vols’Suffer 4-1 Setback at 15-seed Duke in NCAA Second Round

Saturday, May 2

Durham, N.C.

4 p.m. ET

University of Tennessee

[16] Duke

#19 Lady Vols’Suffer 4-1 Setback at 15-seed Duke in NCAA Second Round

May 02, 2026 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. – The University of Tennessee women's tennis team (14-10, 8-7 SEC) saw their 2026 season come to an end, dropping a 4-1 decision to the No. 15-seeded Duke Blue Devils Saturday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Blue Devils (19-7, 10-2 ACC) took the doubles point and carded singles wins on courts five, four and two to advance to the super regional round.

In doubles play, The Lady Vol duo of Vanesa Suarez and Francesca Mattioli earned their 11^th doubles win of the dual season, registering a quick 6-1 result on court one to give Tennessee the set advantage. Duke, though, finalized a 6-2 result on court three shortly after to draw even.

On court two, Tennessee's Catherine Aulia and Leyla Britez Risso battled to a 3-3 score, but Duke's Claire An and Eleana Yu closed with three winning games to take the set 6-3 and give the Blue Devils the 1-0 lead.

In singles competition, Tennessee's No. 11 Katrina Scott was first off the court after registering a decisive 6-3, 6-1 victory to put the Lady Vols on the board. Scott won an impressive 78 percent of her service points in the victory over No. 13 Irina Balus. The First-Team All-SEC selection finishes her first collegiate season with a stellar 9-4 singles record including seven ranked wins. All of her ranked wins came in straight sets.

Duke reclaimed the one-point lead with a win on court five, as Duke's Yu defeated Mattioli, 6-3, 6-2.

The Blue Devils then began to separate from the Lady Vols on courts two, three and five. On court two, Britez Risso jumped to a dominant 6-1 first frame but struggled to maintain her momentum and ultimately fell in three sets, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 to Liv Hovde. Britez Risso concludes her exceptional senior campaign with a 16-3 singles record in the dual season.

Duke's An then claimed the clinching fourth point, taking a 6-3, 6-2 win over Catherine Aulia.

The Lady Vols fell to 36-21 all-time in NCAA Tournament regional competition with the loss. The Round of 32 appearance was Tennessee's seventh in a row, which ties the second-longest streak in program history.