AUBURN, Ala. – A strong performance in singles got the Auburn women's tennis team into the win column Friday afternoon as the Tigers defeated Missouri 4-1 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
Despite dropping the doubles point, Auburn picked up four victories in straight sets in singles to pick up the SEC victory.
Missouri jumped out to a 1-0 lead with doubles wins on courts two and three. But Auburn bounced back in a big way in singles play. Junior Taylor Russo got the first victory for Auburn, winning 6-1, 6-4 at the No. 3 spot to tie the match 1-1. Freshman Yu Chen claimed a win on court five shortly thereafter, winning 6-3, 6-4 to put Auburn ahead 2-1.
Sophomore Madeline Meredith earned her third singles win in her last five matches with a 6-4, 6-3 win at the No. 2 spot to put the Tigers ahead 3-1. And sophomore Jaeda Daniel, ranked No. 113 in the latest ITA rankings, clinched the match at the top spot, winning 6-4, 6-3 over No. 106 Mackenzy Middlebrooks, her third win over a ranked opponent this spring.
Seniors Alannah Griffin and Caroline Turner were honored in a pre-match ceremony as the Tigers celebrated Senior Day; both players had taken their singles matches to third sets when play was halted.
The Tigers will close out the regular season Sunday when they host Arkansas at the Yarbrough Tennis Center; match time is set for noon. Admission is free to all home Auburn tennis matches.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Auburn 4, Missouri 1
Singles
1. #113 Jaeda Daniel (AU) def. #106 Mackenzy Middlebrooks (MIZ), 6-4, 6-3
2. Madeline Meredith (AU) def. Serena Nash (MIZ), 6-4, 6-3
3. Taylor Russo (AU) def. Ellie Wright (MIZ), 6-1, 6-4
4. Alannah Griffin (AU) vs. Lisa Fukutoku (MIZ), 6-3, 3-6, 1-3 unfinished
5. Yu Chen (AU) def. Taylor Gruber (MIZ), 6-3, 6-4
6. Caroline Turner (AU) vs. Marta Oliveira (MIZ), 4-6, 6-1, 1-4 unfinished
Order of finish: 3, 5, 2, 1
Doubles
1. Meredith/Russo (AU) vs. Wright/Fukutoku (MIZ), 5-6 unfinished
2. Middlebrooks/Oliveira (MIZ) def. Daniel/Chen (AU), 6-1
3. Goldin/Gruber (MIZ) def. Griffin/Turner (AU), 7-5
Order of finish: 2, 3