KNOXVILLE, Tenn – Sophomore transfer Maeve Thornton is officially the newest member of the Tennessee women’s tennis program, head coach Alison Ojeda announced on Thursday.

A Knoxville native and graduate of nearby Knoxville Catholic High School, Thornton will join the Lady Vols in 2024-25 with three years of collegiate eligibility remaining. 

Thornton joins the Lady Vols after a one-year stint at Furman where she posted a 9-11 dual-match record in singles and served as the No. 2 player in the Paladins’ lineup in 2024. In doubles, she posted 11 wins while competing with multiple partners, extensively playing alongside Grace Thomas. The duo went undefeated together, amassing a 9-0 record primarily playing at the No. 3 spot in Furman’s lineup.

Prior to her time in college, Thornton was rated a blue chip recruit by tennisrecruiting.net and was ranked as high as No. 22 nationally, while also being the top-ranked player in Tennessee. She led Knoxville Catholic to a pair of state championships and claimed two individual singles state titles. The Tennessee Player of the Year in 2019, Thornton was the Southern’s singles champion for 12s, 14s, 16s, and 18s, and won the doubles championship for 18s. She was also a gold ball winner at indoor nationals for doubles at the age of 14.

Thornton is the sixth signee officially announced for the 2024 recruiting class for Tennessee joining Vanesa Suarez, Natalia Perez, Conley Raidt, Brooklyn Schafer and Saray Yli-Piipari.