SEATTLE, Wash. – After earning their spot by defeating both UCSB and No. 23 UCF during ITA Kickoff Weekend at home, Auburn is set to compete in the ITA National Women's Indoor Championship beginning on Friday. The Tigers' first opponent will be 11th ranked Ohio State at 11:00 a.m. CT.
Auburn was one of 16 teams that punched their ticket to the event, which will be a bracket-style tournament being played Friday through Monday. If the Tigers are able to defeat Ohio State on Friday, they will face the winner of the match between No. 3 Texas A&M and No. 17 San Diego on Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. The loser of each respective match will play on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. CT.
The draws are set in Seattle! Auburn will battle Ohio State on Friday at 11:00 a.m. CT pic.twitter.com/IdtfnS25jd
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) February 8, 2023
Kaitlyn Carnicella comes into the championship boasting a third consecutive SEC freshman of the week honor that was announced by the league office on Wednesday. Carnicella, who is now ranked as 95th in the nation in singles by the ITA, has a 5-1 dual singles record including four straight victories in singles play.
Senior Carolyn Ansari, who is now ranked No. 103 in the nation in singles, has posted a singles victory in each of Auburn's last three matches to improve her dual singles record to 3-2. Her most recent victory was a dramatic 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (6) victory over Avelina Sayfetdinova of Texas Tech that was the deciding match in Auburn's 4-3 road win over the Red Raiders.
Ansari and teammate Ariana Arseneault's ranking as a doubles team saw a move up in the rankings that were announced on Wednesday, as the Tiger duo is now ranked 8th in the nation.
Ohio State holds a perfect 5-0 record so far this season, including ranked wins over then-No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 22 Tennessee, No. 19 Oklahoma State and No. 5 Georgia. Ohio State sophomore Sydni Ratliff was tabbed at 17th in Wednesday's ITA singles rankings and No. 23 Irina Cantos Siemers, No. 105 Shelly Bereznyak, and Kolie Allen will each enter Friday's match with an unblemished 4-0 dual singles record.
A live stream and live stats of Auburn's matchup against Ohio State at the Seattle Tennis Center will be available on the ITA's official website, wearecollegetennis.com.