AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn graduate student Georgie Axon won her 100th career singles match to help propel No. 8 Auburn to its best SEC start in history with a 6-1 win over Missouri Sunday afternoon.
The Tigers (16-2, 7-0) sprinted to the doubles point and overcame a slow start to singles to win in three sets on three courts, securing their 10th consecutive home win in front of a great crowd at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
"We responded really well in every match we played today," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "We were pushed, and that is what we want. When we treat ourselves right, we will continue to play better as the match progresses. Our poise in responding to adversity was great to see."
Axon's 6-4, 6-4 win on court 5 gave the Tigers a 5-0 lead and made her the third player in Auburn history to reach the 100-win mark in singles. She ranks third all-time at Auburn in singles and is four wins away from tying for second place.
"Putting Georgie Axon's contributions to this program in words is impossible," Lilley said "She is so consistent with what she brings on a daily basis. Professional, hard-working, disciplined, and so much more. Nobody is more deserving of this honor."
Auburn sprinted to the doubles point and a 1-0 lead. Axon and Adeline Flach took less than 20 minutes to win 6-0 on court 2, and Carolyn Ansari and Madeline Meredith finished off a 6-1 win a few moments later to put Auburn in the lead. Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arseneault were a game away, leading 5-3 when doubles play was halted.
Yu Chen once again got Auburn off to a fast start in singles, defeating Romary Cardenas 6-1, 6-1 on court six to push the Tigers to a 2-0 lead. But from there, Auburn had to fight for every point as Mizzou claimed first sets on three courts.
Auburn fought back to force third sets in all three of those matches. No. 81 Ansari got the third team point for Auburn with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 win over Elys Ventura at the No. 3 spot. Ovunc, ranked 65th, clinched the win a few moments later with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 win at the top singles position over Bronte Murgett. Axon's historic win just a minute later made it 5-0.
Flach came up short on court four after forcing a third set, falling to Emelie Schwarte 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. No. 59 Arseneault closed out the day with a bounce-back third set, defeating Ellie Wright 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
Auburn's 7-0 start to the SEC season is the best in program history, surpassing the 1993 team's 6-0 beginning to league play. The win sets up a battle of the SEC's last two remaining league unbeatens as they take on No. 12 Texas A&M Friday in College Station.
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#8 Auburn 6, Missouri 1
Singles
1. #65 Selin Ovunc (AU) def. Bronte Murgett (MIZ), 4-6, 7-5, 6-0
2. #59 Ariana Arseneault (AU) def. Ellie Wright (MIZ), 6-2, 1-6, 6-4
3. #81 Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Elys Ventura (MIZ), 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
4. Emelie Schwarte (MIZ) def. Adeline Flach (AU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
5. Georgie Axon (AU) def. Gabriela Martinez (MIZ), 6-4, 6-4
6. Yu Chen (AU) def. Romary Cardenas (MIZ), 6-1, 6-1
Order of finish: 6, 3, 1, 5, 4, 2
Doubles
1. #22 Ovunc/Arseneault (AU) vs. Martinez/Murgett (MIZ), 5-3 unfinished
2. Axon/Flach (AU) def. Schwarte/Ventura (MIZ), 6-0
3. Ansari/Meredith (AU) def. Wright/Cardenas (MIZ), 6-1
Order of finish: 2, 3
