Oct. 12, 2015
Freshmen Alannah Griffin and Caroline Turner competed in their first tournament for the Auburn women's tennis team this weekend at the Mercer Bears Gridiron Classic. They combined to pick up 11 wins and two championships in their respective brackets.
"This was a great confidence booster for our freshmen," said head coach Lauren Longbotham Meisner. "They played a lot of tennis and competed really well. We hope to take this momentum into our regionals this week."
On Friday, Turner got started with two wins over Trani Kamoe from Georgia State (6-3, 6-2) and Emy Aplund from Coastal Georgia 6-0, 6-0. Turner advanced to the semifinals with a win over Abbie Mather from Belmont (6-3, 6-2). After a 6-4, 6-4 win over Nancy Karaky from Trory in the semifinals, Turner clinched the C Singles championship with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Lara Vovk from Georgia State.
Griffin advanced to the finals of the B Singles bracket before losing to Kristin Rehse of Georgia State (6-4, 7-6). After getting a bye in the first round, Griffin beat Brianna Thompson from Charleston State 6-2, 6-3. On Saturday she picked up a win over Chiara Volenjnicek from Georgia State and clinched a spot in the B Singles bracket semifinals with a 6-2, 7-6 (5) win over Katie Sidor from Mercer.
In doubles, the Turner and Griffin won the B Double's championship with a win over Tereza Melicharkova and Luisa Ferrauti from Troy 6,2. After getting the bye in the first round, the pair beat Lara Vovk and Tarani Kamoe from Georgia State 7,5. On Saturday, they beat Catherine Ragon and Reghan Lynch from UAB to advance to the semifinals where they beat Mercer's Christie Cesarini and Liza Klyachkin 6,0.
Auburn women's tennis will return to action this weekend as they host the Women's USTA/ITA Regional Championships.