AUBURN, Ala. - Auburn took advantage of the opportunity to host this weekend's ITA Kickoff Weekend with a thrilling 4-1 victory over No. 23 UCF on Sunday to earn a bid to the 2023 ITA Division I National Women's Indoor Championships in Seattle, Washington being played next month.
"First, we are very proud of our team!" said a pleased Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley. "The poise, the grit- this group has intangibles nobody can teach. From the start of the doubles to the end of the singles, we remained resolute in our pursuit of earning windows of opportunity. Their desire to be great in the little things, understanding one percent improvements over time differentiate, is the foundation of everything they do."
All three doubles matches were very competitive including two matches that went into a tiebreaker. The Auburn duo of Adeline Flach and Angella Okutoyi picked up their first doubles win together after a 6-4 victory on court two. The Tigers' doubles team of Ariana Arseneault and Carolyn Ansari defeated UCF's Marie Mattel and Noel Saidenova in a back-and-forth match that went into a tiebreaker by a 7-6 (6) final score. Kaitlyn Carnicella and DJ Bennett's match also required a tiebreaker but was suspended after Auburn claimed the doubles point.
Adeline Flach & Angella Okutoyi win on court two
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) January 29, 2023
Both other doubles matches are headed to tiebreakers!#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/mBIpuxCicp
Singles play featured many competitive matches as well. Flach was the first Tiger to finish her match, as she defeated No. 110 Nandini Sharma 6-3, 6-1 on court six. At around 4:00 p.m. CT, the rain started to fall which moved the remaining matches to be played on the Yarbrough Tennis Center indoor courts.
Shortly after the move indoors, Ansari finished off her match win in two sets over Jantje Tilbuerger 6-3, 7-5. With Auburn just one point away from taking the win, the freshman Carnicella came back after dropping her first set to defeat Jaleesa Leslie by a 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 score to clinch the match and the trip to Seattle for the Tigers.
After dropping her first set in a tiebreaker, Arseneault was in the middle of her second set with No. 47 Marie Mattel when the match was suspended, while Okutoyi was leading her third set over Sophia Biolay 4-0 when the clinching match occurred.
"Maybe it's a little cliche, but it really takes a village," Auburn associate head coach Megan Falcon said after the match. "We are grateful to have an incredible support staff- people who are invested in making Auburn home. We appreciate our young women, our athletic trainer Amanda Lyon, our strength and conditioning coach Joe D'Amato, and all the people who tirelessly give to support us as we dare to dream big."
TICKET PUNCHED 🎟️#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/WjkFY9VvXT
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) January 29, 2023
Next on the schedule for the Tigers will be their first road dual match of the year against Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas on Sunday, February 5th at 11:00 a.m. CT. The ITA Indoor Championships will be played February 10th through 13th at the University of Washington's Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle, Washington.
#15 Auburn 4, #23 UCF 1
Singles Results
1. #43 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) vs. #47 Marie Mattel (UCF) 6-7 (7-9), 4-3, unfinished
2. #71 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. Jantje Tilbuerger (UCF) 6-3, 7-5
3. Noel Saidenova (UCF) def. #78 DJ Bennett (AUB) 6-1, 6-3
4. Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) def. Jaleesa Leslie (UCF) 4-6, 6-0, 6-4
5. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) vs. Sophia Biolay (UCF) 4-6, 7-5, 4-0, unfinished
6. Adeline Flach (AUB) def. #110 Nandini Sharma (UCF) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles Results
1. #10 Ariana Arseneault/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. Marie Mattel/Noel Saidenova (UCF) 7-6 (8-6)
2. Adeline Flach/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Jantje Tilbuerger/Jaleesa Leslie (UCF) 6-4
3. DJ Bennett/Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) vs. Nandini Sharma/Sophia Biolay (UCF) 6-5, unfinished
Time of match: 3:14; Doubles: 2,1; Singles: 6,3,2,4