ATHENS, Ga. – No. 8 Auburn suffered a road loss against 6th ranked Georgia on Sunday afternoon by a 5-2 final score. The Tigers secured the doubles point in dominating fashion, then were able to claim only one win in singles play.
"Another great start to the match in doubles," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "We are doing the right things and enjoying playing with our partners. Unfortunately, we did not find a way to build on the momentum in singles. A lot to work on and a lot of tennis left to be played. As we navigate another practice week, we will work diligently and deliberately to find solutions. As a staff, we know we have more to give and will be better for our young women."
In the doubles point, Adeline Flach and Angella Okutoyi jumped out to a 5-1 lead on court two and went on to upset Meg Kowalski and Mell Reasco, the 39th ranked doubles team in the country, by a 6-3 score. Flach and Okutoyi's victory marks their seventh doubles win in dual matches and ninth overall win for the team. The victory is also the Auburn duo's first win over a ranked doubles team of the season.
Just moments later, the 20th ranked Auburn doubles team of Ariana Arseneault and Carolyn Ansari defeated No. 26 Guillermina Grant and Mai Nirundorn 6-2 and claimed the doubles point for the Tigers.
Singles play got off to a difficult start for Auburn, as Ansari was the only Tiger able to claim a first set win. The Bulldogs took a 3-1 lead after claiming three singles matches. Ali DeSpain was defeated by Grant Guillermina on court six, Okutoyi was defeated by No. 122 Meg Kowalski on court five and Arseneault was defeated by 10th ranked Lea Ma on court one.
Needing to win all remaining matches, Auburn's Bennett came back to force her match into a third set on court four, but Carnicella's loss to No. 52 Mell Reasco on court three sealed the victory for Georgia.
After the match victory was sealed on court four, Ansari went on to upset No. 12 Dasha Vidmanova in two sets on court two by a 6-1, 7-5 score. Bennett lost a 10-point tiebreaker third set to fall on court four by a 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (7) score.
With the loss, Auburn drops to 13-4 on the season and 3-2 in SEC play. Georgia improved their record to 13-3 and a perfect 6-0 in SEC play.
Up next, Auburn will return home to the Yarbrough Tennis Center to face 38th ranked LSU at 3 p.m. CT. Admission to the Yarbrough Tennis Center will be free. Live video and live scoring of the match will be available at AuburnTigers.com.
#6 Georgia 5, #8 Auburn 2
Singles results:
1. #10 Lea Ma (UGA) def. #46 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) 6-2, 6-3
2. #41 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. #12 Dasha Vidmanova (UGA) 6-1, 7-5
3. #52 Mell Reasco (UGA) def. Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) 6-4, 6-4
4. #64 Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) def. DJ Bennett (AUB) 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (10-7)
5. #122 Meg Kowalski (UGA) def. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) 6-3, 6-1
6. Guillermina Grant (UGA) def. Ali Despain (AUB) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles results:
1. #20 Ariana Arseneault/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. #26 Guillermina Grant/Mai Nirundorn (UGA) 6-2
2. #64 Angella Okutoyi/Adeline Flach (AUB) def. #39 Meg Kowalski/Mell Reasco (UGA) 6-3
3. Ania Hertel/Anastasiia Lopata (UGA) vs. DJ Bennett/Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) 4-5, unfinished
Time of match: 2:33 Order of finish: Doubles: 1,2; Singles: 6,5,1,3,2,4