LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. – Two Auburn women's tennis players combined for three singles victories Friday on the opening day of the Dick Vitale Clay Court Classic.
Senior Georgie Axon won her first two matches in the singles main draw, and junior Madeline Meredith picked up a victory in her opening-round match at the Lakewood Ranch Tennis Center.
"The Dick Vitale Clay Court Classic allows us to play on a surface that is outside of our comfort zone," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "As a coaching staff, the more we can expose the girls to adversity, the more resilient we become as a unit. Today wasn't our prettiest tennis, and at times we needed a much bigger emotional investment, but we improved and that's what we are here to do."
Axon advanced to the quarterfinals with a pair of wins. She opened the tournament with a 6-4, 6-2 win over South Florida's Amelie Boy, then came back in the afternoon with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Michigan's Bella Lorenzini to move to the quarterfinals. Meredith won her first-round match in a third-set tiebreaker over Virginia Tech's Shene Disbergen, 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 (4), but dropped her second-round match to Florida's 85th-ranked Marlee Zein, 7-6 (7), 6-1.
The pair also played one doubles match, falling to McLay/Zaharias of Appalachian State, 8-5.
Play resumes Saturday morning as competition in both singles and doubles continues. Results can be found at R2sports.com and updated on the @AuburnWTennis Twitter page as they become available.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Auburn Women's Tennis Results – Friday, Nov. 1
Dick Vitale Clay Court Classic
Singles
Georgie Axon (AU) def. Amelie Boy (USF), 6-4, 6-2
Madeline Meredith (AU) def. Shene Disbergen (VT), 6-0, 4-6, 1-0 (4)
Georgie Axon (AU) def. Bella Lorenzini (MICH), 6-1, 6-3
#85 Marlee Zein (UF) def. Madeline Meredith (AU), 7-6 (7), 6-1
Doubles
McLay/Zacarias (APP) def. Meredith/Axon (AU), 8-5