Feb. 10, 2007
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -
The No. 75 Auburn Tigers picked up a pair of singles victories, but it was not enough as the No. 29 Texas A&M Aggies (5-1) won, 5-2 on Saturday at the <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Mitchell Tennis Center.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>
The Tigers, making their first road trip of the year, fall to 2-1.
"I am disappointed with the fact that we lost," head coach Tim Gray said. "We had a lot of chances to make this match go our way and we just didn't take advantage."
The Aggies jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, as 50th ranked duo of Tiffany Clifford and Sarah Foster defeated Alex Haney and Melissa Koning, 8-2 at the No. 1 spot.
On the No. 2 court, Kelly Adams and Whitney Chappell dropped their match to 25th ranked Anna Lubinsky and Nicki Mechem, 8-4. The Aggies completed the sweep as Anna Blagodarova and Elze Potgieter slipped past Fani Chifchieva and Jil Hastenrath, 8-6.
A&M kept it rolling as Marisa Druss got past Kelly Adams, 6-0, 6-0 at the No. 6 position. The Aggies moved it to 3-0 as Jil Hastenrath dropped her first match of the year, 6-4, 6-3 to Sarah Foster.
Auburn haulted the momentum and got on the board as Alex Haney battled back to defeat Anna Blagodarova, 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 at the No. 3 spot to cut the lead to 3-1.
Needing to win out to take the match, the Tigers looked to be in good position, as Koning was up 5-0 in the second after dropping the first set. She had six set points, but couldn't hold on, fell to No. 50 Elze Potgieter, 6-4, 7-6(4). Just shortly after that match, Whitney Chappell earned AU's second point of the day with a well played, 7-6(3), 6-4 win over Nicki Mechem at the No. 5 position.
The final match of the day was a hard fought battle between No. 84 Fani Chifchieva and No. 48 Anna Lubinski. Auburn's Chifchieva took the first set, 6-4, but dropped the next two to Lubinski, 6-3, 6-1 to give the Aggies the 5-2 win.
"Tomorrow is another day and another chance to beat a quality ranked team," Gray said. "I know the girls will be ready."
Auburn will head to Houston to face No. 64 Rice on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
Tennis Match Results
Auburn vs. Texas A&M
Feb 10, 2007 at Auburn, Ala.
#29 Texas A&M 5, # 75 Auburn 2
Singles competition
1. #48 Anna Lubinski (A&M) def. #84 Fani Chifchieva (AU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
2. #50 Elze Potgieter (A&M) def. Melissa Koning (AU) 6-4, 7-6(4)
3. Alex Haney (AU) def. Anna Blagodarova (A&M) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1
4. Sarah Foster (A&M) def. Jil Hastenrath (AU) 6-4, 6-3
5. Whitney Chappell(AU) def. Nicki Mechem (A&M) 7-6(3), 6-4
6. Marisa Druss (A&M) def. Kelly Adams (AU) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles competition
1. Clifford/Foster (A&M) def. Koning/Haney (AU) 8-2
2. Lubinski Mechem (A&M) def. Chappell/Adams (AU) 8-4
3. Blagodarova/Potgieter (A&M) def. Chifchieva/Hastenrath (AU) 8-6