April 6, 2018
AUBURN, Ala. - In a battle that lasted over five hours, the No. 17 Auburn women's tennis team took down Missouri 4-2 on the road at the Mizzou Tennis Complex on Friday.
In doubles, Missouri struck the first blow. Amina Ismail and Serena Nash claimed the first doubles set with a 6-2 win over Auburn's Jaeda Daniel and Madeline Meredith on court two.
Auburn's Alizee Michaud and Taylor Russo, however, retaliated with a 7-5 win over Missouri's Clare Raley and Marta Oliveira on court one. Andie Dikosavljevic and Alannah Griffin then clinched the point for Auburn with a 6-4 win over Missouri's Mackenzy Middlebrooks and Ellie Wright on court three.
In singles, Auburn started off riding the momentum from doubles. No. 39 freshman Jaeda Daniel earned the first singles point with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Missouri's Taylor Gruber. That win was Daniel's third straight in singles, pushing the Port Charlotte, Fla., native to 14-6 on the spring season.
Senior Andie Dikosavljevic followed that by putting the Tigers up 3-0 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Missouri's Amina Ismail on court four. Dikosavljevic also became the fourth Tiger to rack up double digit wins in singles this spring after her performance, moving to 10-5 on the spring season.
At this point, Missouri began to fight back. Mackenzy Middlebrooks defeated Auburn's Madeline Meredith 7-5, 6-4 on court three. Serena Nash then brought Missouri within one with a 6-4, 7-6 (8) win over Auburn's Alizee Michaud on court one.
As the remaining two courts came down to the third set, Auburn sophomore Taylor Russo started in a hole, down 4-0. Russo battled back, however, and ultimately clinched the match with a 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Missouri's Ellie Wright on court five.
Auburn is now 17-9 on the season and 5-5 in SEC play. The Tigers' next action will be in Fayetteville, Ark., to square off against Arkansas on Sunday, April 8, at 1 p.m. at the Billingsley Tennis Center.
#17 Auburn 4, Mizzou 2
Singles
1. Serena Nash (MIZ) def. Alizee Michaud (AUBURN) 6-4, 7-6 (10-8)
2. #39 Jaeda Daniel (AUBURN) def. Taylor Gruber (MIZ) 6-4, 6-3
3. Mackenz Middlebrooks (MIZ) def. Madeline Meredith (AUBURN) 7-5, 6-4
4. Andie Dikosavljevic (AUBURN) def. Amina Ismail (MIZ) 6-3, 6-2
5. Taylor Russo (AUBURN) def. Ellie Wright (MIZ) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5
6. Clare Raley (MIZ) vs. Georgie Axon (AUBURN) 7-5, 3-6, 2-4, unfinished
Doubles
1. Alizee Michaud/Taylor Russo (AUBURN) def. Clare Raley/Marta Oliveira (MIZ) 7-5
2. Amina Ismail/Serena Nash (MIZ) def. Jaeda Daniel/Madeline Meredith (AUBURN) 6-2
3. Andie Dikosavljevic/Alannah Griffin (AUBURN) def. Mackenz Middlebrooks/Ellie Wright (MIZ) 6-4
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (2,4,3,1,5)