COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 17 Auburn concluded its 2023 regular season schedule with a road loss to No. 24 Texas A&M on Sunday.
In doubles, Tyler Stice and Alejandro Moreno fell 6-2 on court three and the Tigers' top doubles team of Raul Dobai and Finn Murgett lost to Pierce Rollins and Matthis Ross 6-4. Jan Galka and Billy Blaydes were leading Giulio Perego and Trey Hilderbrand 5-4 when the match was suspended.
Stice got Auburn off to a hot start in singles with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 victory over Raphael Perot, who is the 64th ranked singles player in the country. The win marks Stice's 13th dual singles win of the season and tied the match at 1-1.
Blaydes, who played in the fifth spot in the singles lineup for just the fourth time this season, suffered a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Hilderbrand and Will Nolan was defeated by Luke Casper by a 6-0, 6-3 score.
Murgett and Moreno had each claimed their first set to move some momentum back to the Tigers, but Texas A&M'S Guido Marson won his match on court four over Galka 6-2, 6-3 to clinch the team victory for the Aggies.
After the match with Auburn, Texas A&M shutout UIW to finish its regular season with a 16-10 record and a 7-5 record in the SEC. Auburn dropped its overall record to 17-11 and concluded the regular season with a 5-8 conference record.
Up next, Auburn will begin postseason play at home for the SEC Championship. The Tigers, the No. 9 seed, will battle eight seed Florida in their first match of the championship on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. This season, Auburn holds a 12-2 overall record at home.
All-tournament ticket books for the SEC Championship at the Yarbrough Tennis Center are on sale at aubtix.com. Daily tickets may be purchased on site.
#24 Texas A&M 4, #17 Auburn 1
Singles results:
1. #59 Tyler Stice (AUB) def. #64 Raphael Perot (TAM) 6-2, 6-2
2. #110 Pierce Rollins (TAM) vs. #122 Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 6-7 (8-10), unfinished
3. Giulio Perego (TAM) vs. Finn Murgett (AUB) 4-6, 4-3, unfinished
4. Guido Marson (TAM) def. Jan Galka (AUB) 6-2, 6-3
5. Trey Hilderbrand (TAM) def. Billy Blaydes (AUB) 6-4, 6-4
6. Luke Casper (TAM) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 6-0, 6-3
Doubles results:
1. Pierce Rollins/Matthis Ross (TAM) def. #29 Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett (AUB) 6-4
2. Giulio Perego/Trey Hilderbrand (TAM) vs. Jan Galka/Billy Blaydes (AUB) 4-5, unfinished
3. Raphael Perot/Kenner Taylor (TAM) def. Tyler Stice/Alejandro Moreno (AUB) 6-2
Order of finish: Doubles 3,1; Singles: 1,5,6,4
