NC State
#15 Ohio State
No. 10 NC State Gears Up for ITA Kickoff Weekend
1/22/2025 4:17:00 PM | Women's Tennis
RALEIGH, N.C. – The No. 10 NC State women's tennis team is set to travel to Knoxville, Tennessee, to compete in the ITA Kickoff Weekend, hosted by the University of Tennessee Jan. 24-25. The Wolfpack will open the tournament on Friday at 1:00 p.m. against the No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes. Alongside NC State, other teams competing in the kickoff include Ohio State, Texas Tech, and Tennessee.
The winner of that match will advance to the winners' bracket, competing at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 25. The losing team will play in a consolation match later that evening at 6:30 p.m. All matches will be live-streamed on Playsight, with live results available on StatBroadcast.
The ITA released its latest team rankings on Tuesday afternoon, with NC State moving into the top 10. The Wolfpack's No. 5-ranked doubles team, Gabriella Broadfoot and Maddy Zampardo, head into the weekend with a perfect 2-0 record in dual play. The duo has been dominant, holding a 13-2 overall record, which carries over from the fall season. Freshman Gabia Paskausas, currently ranked No. 55 in singles, proceeds to make her mark in ITA rankings.
This week, the Wolfpack swept the ACC weekly honors, with freshman Michaela Laki earning both Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week accolades following her impressive college debut in Raleigh. Meanwhile, the No. 5-ranked doubles team of Gabriella Broadfoot and Maddy Zampardo earned their second consecutive ACC Doubles Team of the Week honor, as the duo continued its strong winning streak heading into the weekend.
Scouting the Volunteers
The No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers come into this weekend with a 2-0 record, following their season opener in Winston-Salem last weekend. They faced both Wake Forest and ECU in a doubleheader hosted by Wake Forest. Leyla Britez Risso earned SEC Player of the Week honors for her performances during the doubleheader. In the latest rankings, Tennessee features strong individual and doubles talent. The No. 29-ranked doubles team of Elza Tomase and Catherine Aulia leads the way for the Volunteers. In singles, Tomase is ranked No. 10, while Aulia holds the No. 19 spot. Additionally, Vanesa Suarez is ranked No. 54, and Leyla Britez Risso comes in at No. 106.
Scouting the Buckeyes
The No. 15 Ohio State Buckeyes enter the weekend with a perfect 2-0 record, having swept both Cleveland State and Bellarmine 7-0 in their home opener. Sophomore Teah Chavez was named Big Ten Athlete of the Week following her performance over the weekend. Ohio State prepares with a strong singles rotation, with Julia Fliegner ranked No. 8, Audrey Spencer at No. 46, and Sydni Ratliff coming in at No. 84 in ITA rankings.
Scouting the Red Raiders
Texas Tech travels to Knoxville with a 2-0 record, having claimed victories over both Xavier and ACU 7-0 and 6-0, respectively, during their home opener in Lubbock, TX. Junior Mariaa Hlahola earned her first Big 12 Player of the Week honor after remaining undefeated over the weekend.Texas Tech features a strong doubles lineup, with Avelina Sayfetdinova and Mariia Hlahola ranked No. 15, followed by Andreea Lila and Jermine Sherif at No. 33. The duo of Hlahola and Hailey Murphy comes in at No. 57, while Lila and Yekaterina Dmitrichenko are ranked No. 68.
Looking ahead, the Wolfpack will head to Texas for a weekend of dual matches, facing the Texas Longhorns on January 31 and the SMU Mustangs on Sunday, February 3.
#GoPack | @packwtennis
