DURHAM, N.C. – No. 14 Auburn earned its first win of the season over Denver 4-0 during the opening match of ITA Kickoff Weekend on Friday night in Durham, North Carolina. With the win, the Tigers move on to the championship match against host school Duke on Saturday.
The match began with a tightly contested doubles point with competitive matches on all three courts. Ariana Arseneault and Angella Okutoyi teamed up for the first time this season and won their match on court one by a 6-4 score. Soon after the match on court one concluded, another first time Auburn duo of Carolyn Ansari and Ava Esposito Cogan claimed the doubles point with a 6-4 victory on court three.
Sophomore DJ Bennett, the 34th ranked singles player in the nation, wasted no time getting the Tigers their first singles match win against the Pioneers, earning a quick 6-0, 6-2 victory over Caroline Driscoll.
A dominant win on court four by DJ Bennett pushes Auburn's lead to ✌️#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/HxV9srRHl7
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) January 27, 2024
Arseneault also had a strong two-set victory over Britt Pursell to move Auburn to within one match win away from a team victory. In the second set against Pursell, Arseneault won 70 percent of the total points and at one point claimed 10 consecutive points during the winning effort.
Tigers now just a win away from a team victory in Durham after the win by @arseneuakt 🐅#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/HLSz07BA5q
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) January 27, 2024
On court one, No. 8 Ansari started her match against Andrea Beltran strong with a 6-3 opening set win. The fifth-year senior then battled back during the second set that she once trailed 4-2 to win by a 6-3, 7-5 score and clinch the match for the Tigers.
Okutoyi, Flach and Cogan had a lead in each of their respective matches when the team victory was clinched.
With the victory, Auburn will face No. 15 Duke at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday at Ambler Tennis Stadium. The winner of the match will earn a spot in the field at the 2024 ITA National Indoor Championships in Seattle. Live video and live scoring of Saturday's championship match will be available online at goduke.com.
#14 Auburn 4, Denver 0
Singles Results:
1. #8 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. Andrea Beltran (DEN) 6-3, 7-5
2. Ariana Arseneault (AUB) def. Britt Pursell (DEN) 6-1, 6-2
3. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) vs. Louise Wikander (DEN) 7-5, 4-1, unfinished
4. #34 DJ Bennett (AUB) def. Caroline Driscoll (DEN) 6-0, 6-2
5. Adeline Flach (AUB) vs. Alice Otis (DEN) 7-5, 4-3, unfinished
6. Ava Esposito Cogan (AUB) vs. Claudia Martinez (DEN) 6-1, 3-6, 4-2, unfinished
Doubles Results:
1. Ariana Arseneault/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Andrea Beltran/Britt Pursell (DEN) 6-4
2. DJ Bennett/Adeline Flach (AUB) vs. Louise Wikander/Caroline Driscoll (DEN) 5-5, unfinished
3. Carolyn Ansari/Ava Esposito Cogan (AUB) def. Alice Otis/Claudia Martinez (DEN) 6-4
Time of match: 2:14; Order of finish: Doubles: 1,3; Singles: 4,2,1