Oct. 14, 2005
ATHENS, Ga. - After a solid start at the ITA Southern Regional on Thursday, the Auburn women's tennis team hit a bump in the road on Friday, losing five of six matches. On day one, the Tigers advanced freshman Alex Haney and senior Erin Gray to the round of 16 in their respective draws, but both were dealt losses against highly seeded players on Friday.
In singles, Haney fell to No. 4 seed Diana Srebrovic of Florida, 6-0, 6-0, in flight A and Gray dropped her match in flight B to No. 1 seed Elna de Villiers of Mississippi State, 6-1, 6-0.
The lone win for the Tigers came in the consolation bracket of flight A, as senior Ashley Cowart defeated Pam Fernandez of Central Florida in a three-set tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7). Cowart will face Iciri Rai of South Florida in the second round of the consolation bracket on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Also competing in singles was freshman Irina Pljusznyin, who lost her flight A consolation match to Georgia's Darya Ivanov, 6-2, 6-1.
Sophomore Tori Almagno had a bye on Friday in the opening round of the consolation bracket in flight B. She will face Kiara Powell of Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.
The first round of doubles play began on Friday, and the Tigers were represented by Cowart and Haney in flight A and Almagno and Pljusznyin in flight B.
Cowart and Haney lost an 8-4 decision to the team of Vernon and Cruz of South Florida. Almagno and Pljusznyin did not fare much better, as the duo lost to Strickland and Malina of Georgia State, 9-7.
The Tigers continue play on Saturday at the its Southern Regional. For the latest news in Auburn tennis, please visit www.auburntigers.com
Women's Collegiate Tennis
ITA Southern Regional
Athens, Ga.
Singles
Flight A
Round of 16: Diana Srebrovic, UF, def. Alex Haney AU, 6-0, 6-0.
Consolation: Ashley Cowart, AU, def. Pam Fernandez, UCF, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7).
Consolation: Darya Ivanov, UGA def. Irina Pljusznyin, AU, 6-2, 6-1.
Flight B
Round of 16: Elna de Villiers, MSU, def. Erin Gray, AU, 6-2, 6-1.
Doubles
Flight A
Vernon/Cruz, USF, def. Haney/Cowart, AU, 8-4.
Flight B
Strickland/Malina, GaSt., def. Almagno/Pljusznyin, AU, 9-7.