ORLANDO, Fla. – Auburn's Carolyn Ansari and Ariana Arseneault completed their respective runs in the NCAA Singles Championship at the USTA National Campus in Orlando on Wednesday. Both Ansari and Arseneault claimed impressive victories in the first two rounds of the championship before falling in the round of 16.
"I know it wasn't the ending Carolyn [Ansari] and Ariana [Arseneault] imagined for this tournament, but the growth throughout this season was fun to watch," said Auburn Head Coach Caroline Lilley. "They are never satisfied and that desire to beat on their craft to chase improvement will fuel them the entire summer."
With the round of 16 appearances, Ansari and Arseneault have each qualified for the 2023 ITA Singles All-American team. The Auburn duo will become the third and fourth singles All-Americans in program history.
"To be the third and fourth singles All-Americans in program history is an accomplishment worth celebrating," Lilley continued. "I speak for everyone when I say we are proud of how they represent our program and brand. With more opportunities ahead, we will take a minute to enjoy this moment as we know they both achieved a milestone they have been pursuing for a long time."
After dropping the first set to No. 57 Casie Wooten of Wake Forest in Monday's opening round, Ansari, who is currently ranked 23rd in singles, came back to claim the victory in a third set tiebreaker by a 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4) score.
Arsenault's first round matchup against No. 31 Kylie Bilchev of Georgia Tech also went to three sets. The junior, who is the 32nd ranked singles player in the nation, defeated Bilchev by a 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 score to claim the win.
Ansari was the first to take the court for her second-round matchup against fifth ranked Alexa Noel from Miami on Tuesday. After dropping the first set, the senior came back to win the second set in a tiebreaker and ultimately took the match by a 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3 score.
Noel is now the highest ranked singles opponent that Ansari has defeated in her Auburn career. Previously, the highest ranked wins were against No. 12 Dasha Vidmanova of Georgia earlier this season and No. 12 Meg Kowalski of Georgia in 2021.
Arseneault's round of 32 match against No. 24 Celia-Belle Mohr on Tuesday was interrupted by rain and lightning in the area and was moved indoors. After the move inside, the junior finished off a dominant two-set 6-3, 6-4 upset victory. The match marked the 23rd overall singles victory of the season for Arseneault.
In addition to the second round of the NCAA Singles Championships, the opening round of the NCAA Doubles Championships featuring Arseneault and Ansari as a doubles team was played on Tuesday evening. The Auburn duo's first-round matchup against the 19th ranked San Diego team of Kailey Evans and Elizabeth Goldsmith was moved indoors due to weather. The Auburn tandem forced a tiebreaker in both sets, but ultimately lost both tiebreakers to fall by a close 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6) score.
In Wednesday's round of 16 singles matches, Arseneault fell to Michigan's 36th ranked Kari Miller by a 6-1, 6-2 score while Ansari lost to No. 15 Carol Lee of Georgia Tech in three sets 3-6, 7-5, 6-0.
NCAA Singles Championships Round of 64 Singles Results:
#23 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. #57 Casie Wooten (WF) 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (4)
#32 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) def. #31 Kylie Bilchev (GT) 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-4
NCAA Singles Championships Round of 32 Results:
#23 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. #5 Alexa Noel (UM) 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-3
#32 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) def. #24 Celia-Belle Mohr (VU) 6-3, 6-4
NCAA Singles Championships Round of 16 Results:
#36 Kari Miller (MICH) def. #32 Ariana Arseneault 6-1, 6-2
#15 Carol Lee (GT) def. #23 Carolyn Ansari 3-6, 7-5, 6-0
NCAA Doubles Championships Round of 32 Results:
#19 Kailey Evans/Elizabeth Goldsmith (SD) def. #31 Ariana Arseneault/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) 7-6 (6), 7-6 (6)