SEATTLE, Wash. – Auburn women's tennis has taken down a ranked opponent for the second straight day at the ITA National Indoor Championship in Seattle, as today the Tigers upset No. 8 Pepperdine by a 4-2 final score.
"Speechless and humbled, that's the best way to describe how we feel as a staff right now," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said after the big win. "Like we said after our first match here in Seattle, we coach the most resilient team in the country. To watch them embrace the difficult, loving the monotonous grind one point at a time, speaks volumes to the character of our group. Build the house you want to build, and know the details make all the difference."
Auburn's No. 8 doubles team of Ariana Arseneault and Carolyn Ansari was defeated 6-0 on court one by No. 4 Savannah Broadus and Janice Tjen while DJ Bennett and Kaitlyn Carnicella soon claimed a victory on court three by a 6-2 score. The Tigers claimed the doubles point after Angella Okutoyi and Adeline Flach won the tiebreaker in a tightly contested match on court two by a 7-6 (7) score.
In singles play, Pepperdine's No. 16 Broadus claimed a victory on court three over No. 95 Carnicella 6-3, 6-0 to tie the team score at 1-1. No. 67 Arseneault upset a ranked opponent for the second day in a row by defeating No. 20 Janice Tjen in two sets 6-4, 6-3.
Bennett also finished her match in two sets, as she took down Bunyawi Thamchaiwat 6-1, 7-6 (0) to give the Tigers a 3-1 advantage. Just like the match on Saturday, No. 103 Ansari delivered the match clinching win on court two thanks to a 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-0 victory over 44th ranked Lisa Zaar.
Auburn will now head back to the Plains after a successful trip to Seattle. The Tigers will leave the Emerald City with a 7-2 overall record and two ranked victories over both No. 17 San Diego and No. 8 Pepperdine.
Auburn's next match will be at home against Belmont at 10:00 a.m. CT. Live streaming and live stats from the Yarbrough Tennis Center will be available on AuburnTigers.com.
#13 Auburn 4, #8 Pepperdine 2
Singles
1. #67 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) def. #20 Janice Tjen (PU) 6-4, 6-3
2. #103 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. #44 Lisa Zaar (PU) 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-0
3. #16 Savannah Broadus (PU) def. Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) 6-3, 6-0
4. DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Bunyawi Thamchaiwat (PU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-0)
5. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) vs. Nikki Redlijk (PU) 5-7, 6-2, 4-0, unfinished
6. Anna Campana (PU) def. Adeline Flach (AUB) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)
Doubles
1. #4 Janice Tjen/Savannah Broadus (PU) def. #8 Ariana Arseneault/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) 6-0
2. Adeline Flach/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Bunyawi Thamchaiwat/Lisa Zaar (PU) 7-6 (9-7)
3. DJ Bennett/Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) def. Nikki Redlijk/Carolyn Campana (PU) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles: 1,3,2; Singles: 3,1,4,2
