AUBURN, Ala. – Senior Georgie Axon won the Orange draw final Sunday morning to highlight the final day for the Auburn women's tennis team at the Marliss Gruver Fall Invitational.
For the weekend, the Tigers went 12-4 in singles play and 4-2 in doubles to finish off a successful season-opening tournament at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
"We made a lot of positive strides this weekend, and our fight across the board is something I commend them for," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "Our dedication and commitment to the details, our inner voice, rewarding ourselves for playing aggressive under pressure, emotionally investing when we face adversity – those are the incremental improvements we will always focus on.
"The more we commit to 'chopping wood and carrying water,' the better foundation we will have moving forward. Our players represented Auburn Tennis immensely well this weekend, and I am humbled and proud to coach them."
Axon, who was playing in her first collegiate event in 15 months, finished off a 4-0 week in singles play with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Kansas' Julia Deming to claim the flight title in the Orange draw. Along with a pair of wins in doubles, Axon finished the week with a team-best 6-1 overall record.
Junior Taylor Russo also earned a victory in the Orange draw fifth-place match, defeating Yale's Lauren Gillinov 6-2, 6-3.
Freshman Selin Ovunc took Kansas State's Rosanna Maffei to three sets in the Blue draw final but came up short in a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss. And junior Madeline Meredith also went the distance in her match with Ole Miss' Tereza Janatova, but dropped a 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2 decision.
In doubles, the 46th-ranked team of Meredith and Russo took third place in the Blue draw with a 6-3 win over Mesquita/Job of Kansas State. Ovunc and Axon claimed the consolation final with a 6-2 win over Notre Dame's Taylor/Bojczuk.
The fall season continues next weekend as several Auburn players will travel to Houston for the Rice Invitational. Play begins Friday and runs through Sunday.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Day 3 Auburn Results
Doubles
#46 Meredith/Russo (AU) def. Job/Mesquita (KSU), 6-3
Ovunc/Axon (AU) def. Taylor/Bojczuk (ND), 6-2
Singles
Georgie Axon (AU) def. Julia Deming (KU), 6-2, 6-4
Taylor Russo (AU) def. Lauren Gillinov (Yale), 6-2, 6-3
Rosanna Maffei (KSU) def. Selin Ovunc (AU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
Tereza Janatova (OM) def. Madeline Meredith (AU), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 6-2