Auburn picks up five wins Friday at Marliss Gruver Invite

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's women's tennis team earned five wins on the opening day of the Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational, which continues through Sunday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
 
Freshman Sophia Graver picked up a pair of convincing wins in her first home action as a Tiger. She teamed up with junior Taylor Russo in doubles to earn an 8-3 win over Miami's Estela Perez-Somarriba and Daniella Roldan, ranked No. 51 in the ITA Doubles Rankings. She then came back in singles just a few minutes later and needed just 52 minutes to earn a 6-1, 6-0 win over Arkansas' Martina Zerulo.
 
Russo also earned a win in singles, defeating Georgia State's Eva Chivu, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Graver will advance to the Flight 1 semifinals, and Russo heads to the Flight 2 semis on Saturday.
 
Two other Tigers picked up singles victories. Sophomore Lindsay Song held on for a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Georgia State's Nastya Grosheva in Flight 4, and senior Caroline Turner took down Kansas' Julia Deming, 6-2, 6-2.
 
In other doubles action, seniors Alannah Griffin and Caroline Turner fell in a tiebreaker, 8-7 (5) in their first-round match, and the team of sophomore Lindsay Song and freshman Annabella Bowen dropped an 8-5 decision to Arkansas' Zerulo and Shwetha Prabakar.
 
Friday's action was contested indoors due to persistent rain in the Auburn area.
 
Tournament action continues Saturday with action getting underway at 9 a.m. CT. The players will compete in two rounds of doubles and one round of singles Saturday; play is expected to take place outdoors. Admission is free for all fans.
 
For live updates from the tournament and the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
 
Auburn Women's Tennis Results
Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational – Friday, Oct. 26
 
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Flight 1
Graver/Russo (AU) def.  #51 Perez-Sombarriba/Roldan (MIA), 8-3
 
Flight 2
Zerulo/Prabakar (ARK) def. Bowen/Song (AU), 8-5
Vovk/Grosheva (GSU) def. Griffin/Turner (AU), 8-7 (5)
 
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
Flight 1
Sophia Graver (AU) def. Martina Zerulo (ARK), 6-1, 6-0
 
Flight 2
Taylor Russo (AU) def. Eva Chivu (GSU), 6-4, 7-6 (5)
 
Flight 3
Caroline Turner (AU) def. Julia Deming (KU), 6-2, 6-2
 
Flight 4
Laura Rico-Garcia (OU) def. Annabella Bowen (AU), 6-0, 6-0
Lindsay Song (AU) def. Nastya Grosheva (GSU), 6-4, 7-5