MADISON, Wis. – Auburn women's tennis came up short for the first time this season as the 14th-ranked Tigers dropped a 4-2 decision to No. 6 NC State Friday at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
The Tigers (7-1) fell behind after doubles and mounted a rally on multiple courts but were unable to finish off the comeback over the Wolfpack (9-0).
"We are disappointed in how we performed today," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "At times we played too reactive, just too passive. When we found ourselves in offensive positions we had a hard time staying the course.
"There is a lot of tennis still to be played this weekend, a lot to look forward to as we remain focused on growth. I will take it upon myself to have us more prepared tomorrow to play the style of tennis I know we can be proud of."
NC State took a 1-0 lead with a pair of wins in doubles. Amelia Rajecki and Abigail Rencheli defeated 43rd-ranked Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arseneault 6-1, and the 30th-ranked team of Jaeda Daniel and Nell Miller downed Auburn's Georgie Axon and Adeline Flach by the same score. Carolyn Ansari and Madeline Meredith were tied 4-4 with their opponent when doubles play was halted.
The Wolfpack then moved ahead 3-0 as Axon fell to Sophie Abrams 6-1, 6-3, and Flach dropped a 6-1, 6-4 match to Miller. Yu Chen got Auburn on the board on court six with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Rajecki, and 116th-ranked Arseneault won a second-set tiebreaker to defeat 40th-ranked Rencheli 6-1, 7-6 (4) to cut the deficit to 3-2. But No. 49 Ovunc was unable to hold onto a second-set lead over 12th-ranked Daniel, falling 6-2, 7-5 to clinch the match for the Wolfpack.
Ansari, ranked No. 125, won an epic first-set tiebreaker 9-7 and was leading No. 124 Priska Nugroho 2-1 in the second when the match was halted.
The Tigers will face No. 16 Washington at noon CT Saturday in the consolation bracket. Live video and live scoring links are available on the schedule page at AuburnTigers.com.
ITA National Team Indoor Championships
Round of 16 – Friday, Feb. 11, 2022
#6 NC State 4, #14 Auburn 2
Singles
1. #12 Jaeda Daniel (NCSU) def. #49 Selin Ovunc (AU), 6-2, 7-5
2. #116 Ariana Arseneault (AU) def. #40 Abigail Rencheli (NCSU), 6-1, 7-6 (4)
3. #125 Carolyn Ansari (AU) vs. #124 Priska Nugroho (NCSU), 7-6 (7), 2-1 unfinished
4. Nell Miller (NCSU) def. Adeline Flach (AU), 6-1, 6-4
5. Sophie Adams (NCSU) def. Georgie Axon (AU), 6-1, 6-3
6. Yu Chen (AU) def. Amelia Rajecki (NCSU), 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 4, 5, 6, 2, 1
Doubles
1. Rencheli/Rajecki (NCSU) def. #43 Ovunc/Arseneault (AU), 6-1
2. #30 Daniel/Miller (NCSU) def. Axon/Flach (AU), 6-1
3. Ansari/Meredith (AU) vs. Nayar/Nugroho (NCSU), 4-4 unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 1
