AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn defeated No. 37 LSU in a tight 4-3 victory at the Yarbrough Tennis Center on Friday afternoon. The Tigers won the match despite dropping the doubles point and losing the first set on four courts during singles play.
"Resilient, we say it often, but we coach the most resilient team in the country," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said after the win. "LSU came out and played exceptional in doubles. Our response to the doubles, to play with the poise and composure we did down the stretch, is a testament to the way our young women prepare. When you choose to love the process, your best is always ahead."
The Auburn freshman duo of DJ Bennett and Kaitlyn Carnicella picked up their team-best 10th doubles dual victory of the season and the sixth doubles victory in a row on court three by a 6-1 score. However, Auburn dropped the match on both other courts to lose the doubles point.
Things began to look worse for the Tigers once singles play began, as Auburn lost the first set on courts one, two, three and six.
Carolyn Ansari, in first match in the top spot of the Auburn singles lineup this season, lost her match in two sets to No. 27 Anastasiya Komar. Freshman Angella Okutoyi picked up her ninth singles win of the year with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Nikita Vishwase to cut the Auburn deficit to 2-1.
Bennett tied the match with a two set victory of her own on court four, as she took down Nina Geissler 6-2, 6-2. Carnicella dropped her match on court four, which forced Auburn to win both remaining matches to claim a team victory.
Junior Ariana Arseneault came back from dropping her first set to Kylie Collins, the 22nd ranked singles player in the country, to win the next two in a row and complete the 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 upset on court two. The win was Arseneault's ninth dual singles win of the year and tied the match at three.
Flach, who also dropped her first set on court six, fought back by claiming set two 6-4 to force a winner-take-all third set to decide the match. The junior then won the third set 6-3 to deliver the Tigers to victory.
The win propels Auburn to a 14-4 overall record and improves its SEC record to 4-2. The match was also the Tigers' 10th victory on their home court. With the loss, LSU falls to 9-5 for the season and 2-4 in conference play.
Auburn will look to continue their winning ways later this weekend when they face No. 2 Texas A&M at noon CT at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Live video and live scoring of the top-15 matchup will be available online at AuburnTigers.com.
#11 Auburn 4, #37 LSU 3
Singles results:
1. #27 Anastasiya Komar (LSU) def. #32 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) 6-1, 6-3
2. #50 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) def. #22 Kylie Collins (LSU) 1-6, 6-0, 6-3
3. Safiya Carrington (LSU) def. Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) 7-5, 6-4
4. DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Nina Geissler (LSU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Nikita Vishwase (LSU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Adeline Flach (AUB) def. Noor Carrington (LSU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Doubles results:
1. #55 Kylie Collins/Anastasiya Komar (LSU) def. #20 Ariana Arseneault/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) 6-1
2. Safiya Carrington/Noor Carrington (LSU) def. #80 Adeline Flach/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) 6-1
3. DJ Bennett/Kaitlyn Carnicella (AUB) def. Nina Geissler/Nikita Vishwase (LSU) 6-1
Time of match: 2:25 Order of finish: Doubles: 3,1,2; Singles: 1,5,4,3,2,6