SEATTLE, Wash. – No. 13 Auburn trailed No. 17 San Diego 3-1 at one point during singles play during day two of the ITA National Indoor Championship, but claimed three consecutive singles victories to win by a 4-3 final score.
"Whenever you play well coached and prepared teams you expect a battle, and San Diego pushed us until the end," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said after the thrilling victory. "Our responses in second sets was great to see as that was something we wanted to improve on from yesterday. The toughness we played with down the stretch, and the resilience that has become the defining characteristic of our program, made the atmosphere electric."
Auburn got a great start to the match in doubles play. Freshman duo DJ Bennett and Kaitlyn Carnicella defeated Claudia De Las Heras and Jordyn McBride by a 6-3 score on court three, then Angella Okutoyi and Adeline Flach took their match over Flippa Bruu-Syversen by the same score on court two to quickly claim the doubles point for the Tigers. No. 8 Ariana Arseneault and Carolyn Ansari were leading their ranked matchup over No. 15 by a 5-4 score when the match was suspended.
The Toreros took the lead back from Auburn by claiming a couple of two set match wins. Bennett fell to Elizabeth Goldsmith 6-1, 6-4 on court three and No. 95 Kaitlyn Carnicella dropped her match against No. 93 Abigail Desiatnikov 6-2, 6-4.
The first sets on courts one, five and six were each settled by tiebreakers in the match. Okutoyi was ultimately the only Tiger able to claim a first set win in the match on court five.
Now down 3-1 after dropping the match on court six, Auburn fought back as both Ansari and Arseneault won their second sets on courts one and two, respectively. Okutoyi claimed Auburn's first singles match, as she defeated No. 51 Kailey Evans 7-6 (5), 6-2 to cut the Tigers' deficit to 3-2 with two singles matches remaining.
Auburn claims their first singles match of the day as Angella Okutoyi wins court five 7-6 (5), 6-1.
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) February 11, 2023
It's getting close in Seattle, Tigers trail 2-3
(Video courtesy: @ITA_Tennis) pic.twitter.com/YKfygXYZ9Z
Arseneault won her third set to claim the match over No. 37 Colling Solymar by a 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-0 score. Arseneault's win left the match all tied with only one match remaining on court two between Ansari and De Las Heras. The match's third set required a tiebreaker, which Ansari came back to win 7-5. The final score of that match was 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 (5).
COMEBACK COMPLETE 🏆
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) February 11, 2023
Carolyn Ansari takes set three and claims the team win for the Tigers!
(Video courtacy: @ITA_Tennis) pic.twitter.com/h5kYBbzzat
This is already the second time that the Greensboro, North Carolina native won the deciding match in a 3-3 game, as Ansari also gave the Tigers the deciding match win at Texas Tech on February 5th.
Up next, Auburn will face the winner of No. 7 Virginia and No. 8 Pepperdine that will be played later today. The match will be played at 2:00 p.m. CT. A live stream and live stats will be available on the ITA's official website, wearecollegetennis.com.
#13 Auburn 4, #17 San Diego 3
Singles
1. #67 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) def. #37 Solymar Colling (SD) 6-7 (2-7), 6-2, 6-0
2. #103 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. Claudia De Las Heras (SD) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
3. Elizabeth Goldsmith (SD) def. DJ Bennett (AUB) 6-1, 6-4
4. #93 Abigail Desiatnikov (SD) def. #95 Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) 6-2, 6-4
5. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. #51 Kailey Evans (SD) 7-6 (7-5), 6-1
6. Jordyn McBride (SD) def. Adeline Flach (AUB) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2
Doubles
1. #8 Ariana Arseneault/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) vs. #15 Kailey Evans/Elizabeth Goldsmith (SD) 5-4, unfinished
2. Angella Okutoyi/Adeline Flach (AUB) def. Filippa Bruu-Syverse/Victoria Kalaitzis (SD) 6-3
3. DJ Bennett/Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) def. Claudia De Las Heras/Jordyn McBride (SD) 6-3
Order of finish: Doubles: 3,2; Singles: 3,4,6,5,1,2