AUBURN, Ala. – For the third consecutive year, Auburn's Taylor Russo has been named to the SEC Community Service Team for women's tennis, the conference office announced Thursday.
With her third selection to the team, Russo continues to exemplify the best in an Auburn student-athlete. Although the COVID-19 pandemic prevented many of the projects she had previously been part of, Russo and the team sponsored two local children through the Salvation Army at Christmas, a project she and the team have undertaken for the last five years.
Over her five years at Auburn, Russo has helped with the Auburn downtown trick-or-treat at Halloween with her team and other student-athletes. Prior to the pandemic, she and her teammates went to Morningside Nursing Home to decorate residents' doors and the facility to boost holiday spirit. She also helped make cards for veterans on Valentine's Day and worked with the campus food pantry.
Russo was part of the Auburn Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving as social media coordinator and treasurer. She earned the Athletic Director's Spirit of Auburn Award for the 2019-20 school year, an award that is presented to the student-athlete that inspires others, gives unselfishly of their time and talents to better their teams, and epitomizes the values in the Auburn Creed.
On the court, Russo was 7-4 in both singles and doubles this spring before an injury on March 11 vs. Mississippi State ended her season. She was ranked 99th nationally in singles and as high as 10th in doubles. Russo finishes her Auburn playing career with 90 doubles wins and 85 singles victories, both of which rank in the top six in Auburn history.
All league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men's and women's sports being chosen from 1999-2003.
The Tigers begin postseason play next Tuesday at the SEC Tournament in Tuscaloosa. Auburn's opponent, seed and match time have yet to be determined.
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