GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A match that lasted nearly three-and-a-half hours came down to three-setters on three courts, but seventh-seeded Tennessee prevailed over second-seeded Auburn, 4-2, in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal Friday night.
The Tigers (20-5) fought back and showed life after Tennessee won the doubles point, but the Lady Vols came up with the big points at crucial times to eliminate Auburn from the conference tournament.
"A very long and physical match today," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "Tennessee outplayed us in doubles, they really played a great doubles point.
"I loved our response in singles. Unfortunately, not every match you empty the tank goes your way. That is a part of competing. We did some really great things; how we reward ourselves for playing the right style even when we may lose the point was the difference maker today. When we lose perspective, wanting it too badly, we fight ourselves too much."
Tennessee took control early in doubles and pushed ahead to the 1-0 lead. Georgie Axon and Adeline Flach fell 6-0 on court 2, and Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arseneault dropped a 6-3 match at the top doubles spot. Carolyn Ansari and Madeline Meredith were trailing 3-4 on court 3 when play was halted.
The Tigers answered in singles as 65th-ranked Arseneault earned her fourth straight ranked victory with a 6-2, 6-3 win over No. 60 Tenika McGiffin. Auburn would then move into the lead, 2-1, as Axon used momentum from a first-set tiebreaker to push to a 7-6 (6), 6-3 win over Esther Adeshina.
From there, though, Auburn was unable to overcome strong play from the Lady Vols. Tennessee tied it up as Elza Tomase won over Ansari on court 3, 6-3, 7-5. The remaining three matches went the distance. Flach fought back from a first-set defeat to extend to a third set but would come up just short on court 5 in a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 loss to Daria Kuczer.
Ovunc would win her first set and was within striking distance of a victory in a second-set tiebreaker, but ultimately dropped a 6-4, 6-7 (5), 2-6 decision to Rebeka Mertena to clinch the victory for Tennessee. Chen fought through two tiebreakers and was leading 3-2 in the final set when the match was abandoned.
Auburn will now await an NCAA Tournament bid. The selection show is Monday, May 2, with first-round play to take place May 6-7.
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SEC Tournament Quarterfinals – Gainesville, Fla.
(7) Tennessee 4, (2) Auburn 2
Singles
1. #34 Rebeka Mertena (UT) def. #35 Selin Ovunc (AU), 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2
2. #65 Ariana Arseneault (AU) def. #60 Tenika McGiffin (UT), 6-2, 6-3
3. #121 Elza Tomase (UT) def. #107 Carolyn Ansari (AU), 6-3, 7-5
4. Georgie Axon (AU) def. Esther Adeshina (UT), 7-6 (6), 6-3
5. Daria Kuczer (UT) def. Adeline Flach (AU), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3
6. Yu Chen (AU) vs. Eleonora Molinaro (UT), 6-7, 7-6, 3-2 unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 4, 3, 5, 1
Doubles
1. #71 Mertena/Adesina (UT) def. #9 Ovunc/Arseneault (AU), 6-3
2. McGiffin/Tomase (UT) def. Axon/Flach (AU), 6-0
3. Ansari/Meredith (AU) vs. Molinaro/Kuczer (UT), 3-4 unfinished
Order of finish: 2, 1