COLUMBIA, S.C. – It was a solid first day for the Auburn women's tennis team at the Carolina Kickoff as the Tigers claimed 10 victories between singles and doubles Friday at the Carolina Indoor Tennis Center.
Auburn went 6-1 in singles and 4-3 in doubles against opponents from Georgia Tech and Wake Forest.
"It was nice to be back out competing as a team," Auburn associate head coach Megan Falcon said. "As we progress through the tournament, we will continue to lean on our preparation and rely on our professionalism in the little areas as they make a big difference. As we find ourselves in similar situations that we practice on a weekly basis, we love our aggressive approach to applying pressure."
Auburn began its day with four doubles matches against opponents from Wake Forest. The highlight of the day came as Auburn's team of Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arseneault defeated the nation's No. 2-ranked tandem of Brooke Killingsworth and Anna Brylin, 6-3. Georgia Axon and Adeline Flach also earned a win over Wake Forest, downing Campana and Wooten 6-3. Carolyn Ansari and Madeline Meredith fell 6-2 to Wake's Pesavento and Nihalani, and Yu Chen and Anastasia Astakhova dropped a 6-2 match to Martinelli and Ahmad.
The Tigers then took on opponents from Georgia Tech in doubles, picking up two more wins. Flach and Axon defeated Tech's Jain and Marsh, 6-0, and Ansari and Astakhova earned a 6-4 win over Cohen and Garcia Gross. Ovunc and Arseneault came up short in a 6-3 loss to Lee and Sharabura.
Singles play followed with seven matches against opponents from Wake Forest. Ovunc, ranked 79th in the ITA rankings, earned a ranked win over Wake's Anna Campana, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. Arseneault defeated Brylin, 6-4, 6-4, and Flach took down Killingsworth, 6-1, 6-3.
Three other Tigers picked up wins with Axon defeating Peyton Pesavento, 7-5, 6-0, Chen downing Saby Nihalani, 6-0, 7-5, and Astakhova winning over Maddie Lynch, 6-1, 6-2. Ansari dropped a 7-6, 6-2 decision to 58th-ranked Casie Wooten.
Play continues Saturday at the Carolina Kickoff. With impending weather approaching, the schedule has been condensed for the event to conclude Saturday. Auburn is scheduled to play singles and doubles against opponents from South Carolina, beginning at 8 a.m. CT.
For the latest on Auburn Women's Tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Auburn Women's Tennis Results – Friday, Jan. 14
Carolina Kickoff – Columbia, S.C.
Singles
#79 Selin Ovunc (AU) def. #75 Anna Campana (WF), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
Ariana Arseneault (AU) def. Anna Brylin (WF), 6-4, 6-4
#58 Casie Wooten (WF) def. #115 Carolyn Ansari (AU), 7-6, 6-2
Adeline Flach (AU) def. Brooke Killingsworth (WF), 6-1, 6-3
Georgie Axon (AU) def. Peyton Pesavento (WF), 7-5, 6-0
Yu Chen (AU) def. Saby Nihalani (WF), 6-0, 7-5
Anastasia Astakhova (AU) def. Maddie Lynch (WF), 6-1, 6-2
Doubles
Ovunc/Arseneault (AU) def. #2 Killingsworth/Brylin (WF), 6-3
Flach/Axon (AU) def. Campana/Wooten (WF), 6-3
Pesavento/Nihalani (WF) def. Ansari/Meredith (AU), 6-2
Martinelli/Ahmad (WF) def. Chen/Astakhova (AU), 6-2
Flach/Axon (AU) def. Jain/Marsh (GT), 6-0
Ansari/Astakhova (AU) def. Cohen/Garcia Gross (GT), 6-4
Lee/Sharabura (GT) def. Ovunc/Arseneault (AU), 6-3
