ORLANDO, Fla. – Auburn women's tennis won three singles matches Saturday to highlight the second day of competition at the Orlando Invitational.
The Tigers went 3-3 in six singles matches against players from Kansas. Texas Tech swept three doubles matches earlier in the day.
Senior Taylor Russo, ranked No. 79 nationally, earned her second singles win of the weekend, defeating 63rd-ranked Sonia Smagina, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. Freshman Selin Ovunc also moved to 2-0 on the weekend in singles with a 7-5, 7-6 (6) win over Luniuska Delgado. And senior Georgie Axon downed KU's Maria Toran Ribes, 6-2, 6-1.
Auburn sophomore Yu Chen fell in three sets to No. 93 Malkia Ngounoue, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2; freshman Carolyn Ansari dropped a 6-4, 6-4 match to Carmen Roxana Manu, and junior Madeline Meredith fell short against KU's Vasiliki Karvouni, 6-1, 6-2.
"In singles we had some moments of gritty, passionate tennis, mixed in with too many moments of mopey, problem-focused competing," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "Across the board we need more of an investment in the gold standard, the 'whatever-it-takes' mentality even when things aren't pretty. Great teams and individuals achieve excellence through a daily commitment to the little things. When the mediocre shift into neutral, the excellent choose to press on with conviction."
In doubles, Auburn came up short in three matches against players from Texas Tech. Meredith and Axon fell to Mays and Miller, 6-3; Ansari and Russo dropped a 6-1 match to Peet and Marinkov; and Ovunc and Chen came up short to Collins and Bridgforth, 6-4.
"We aren't playing the style of doubles that will allow us to improve throughout the season," Lilley said. "I am very disappointed in how we competed and how we were unwilling to sustain any sort of forward pressure. Tomorrow will be different, we will respond to the adversity today and grow."
Play concludes Sunday as the Tigers will face players from Missouri in doubles and Iowa State in singles. Live scoring is not available, but live video is available at ustanationalcampus.com.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Auburn Women's Tennis Results – Saturday, Jan. 11
Orlando Invitational
Doubles
Mays/Miller (TT) def. #59 Meredith/Axon (AU), 6-3
Peet/Marinkov (TT) def. Ansari/Russo (AU), 6-1
Collins/Bridgforth (TT) def. Ovunc/Chen (AU), 6-4
Singles
#79 Taylor Russo (AU) def. #63 Sonia Smagina (KU), 1-6, 7-5, 6-4
#93 Malkia Ngounoue (KU) def. #123 Yu Chen (AU), 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2
Selin Ovunc (AU) def. Luniuska Delgado (KU), 7-5, 7-6 (6)
Carmen Roxana Manu (KU) def. Carolyn Ansari (AU), 6-4, 6-4
Georgie Axon (AU) def. Maria Toran Ribes (KU), 6-2, 6-1
Vasiliki Karvouni (KU) def. Madeline Meredith (AU), 6-1, 6-2