April 4, 2008
Auburn, Ala. - The Auburn University women's tennis team (13-6, 3-6 SEC) gave the No. 3 Florida Gators a run for their money Friday, winning three singles matches, but the Gators prevailed 4-3 over Auburn.
The Gators remain unbeaten in the Southeastern Conference with the win.
"We did everything we could, but Florida stepped up," said Auburn head coach Tim Gray. "I am getting ready to tell the team to look at where our program was, and the matches we have played Florida the last two years, and look at where we are now. We were inches away from that win."
Melissa Koning won Auburn's first singles point, easily defeating No. 106 Megan Alexander in the three spot. The Gators pulled ahead with a win on court six. Lolita Frangulyan defeated Dunja Djuranovic 6-2, 6-4.
The Gators went up 3-1 with a win on court four. Whitney Chappell fell 6-4, 6-2, to No. 124 Whitney Benik. Alex Haney improved the Tigers score to two with her three-set victory (6-3, 2-6, 6-1) on court two.
Fani Chifchieva tied the score up with her 6-1, 8-6 victory over No. 27 Julia Cohen on court one.
Jil Hastenrath battled to three sets in the five spot, but Anastasia Revzina clinched the win for the Gators with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, victory.
"We had a great game plan and Revzina did a great job of handling that game plan," Gray said. "Florida is a very experienced team and against an experienced team you have to take advantage of your opportunities. We let a couple slip away."
Auburn dropped the doubles point with tough losses in the two and three spots. Koning and partner Haney prevailed however, with an 8-4 win over Benik and Borsanyi in the one spot, improving their conference record to 6-2.
The Tigers will be back in action on Sunday to host the No. 30 Carolina Gamecocks at 1 p.m. CT. Admission to the match is free. Live stats will be available at www.auburntigers.com.
Results
Singles
1. #22 Fani Chifchieva (AU) def. #27 Julia Cohen (UF) 6-1, 8-6
2. #107 Alex Haney (AU) def. #32 Csilla Borsanyi (UF) 6-3, 2-6, 6-1
3. Melissa Koning (AU) def. #106 Megan Alexander (UF) 6-0, 6-1
4. # 124 Whitney Benik (UF) def. Whitney Chappell (AU) 6-4, 6-2
5. #95 Anastasia Revzina (UF) def. Jil Hastenrath (AU) 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Lolita Frangulyan (UF) def. Dunja Djuranovic (AU) 6-2, 6-4
Doubles
1. #22 Haney/Koning (AU) def. Benik/Borsanyi (UF) 8-4
2. Cohen.Revzina (UF) def. Chappell/Chifchieva (AU) 8-5
3. Alexander/Frangulyan (UF) def. Hastenrath/Djuranovic (AU) 8-3