AUBURN, Ala. – No. 16 Auburn suffered its first home loss of the season to 24th ranked Tennessee on Friday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center by a 4-3 score. With the score tied 3-3, Tennessee claimed a third-set tiebreaker on court two to earn a team victory in a match that lasted nearly four hours.
With its usual doubles lineup back on the courts after missing Angella Okutoyi for the last four matches, Auburn started the match strong. Carolyn Ansari and Selin Ovunc won their third straight win on court three 6-2. After beginning the match up 2-0, Okutoyi and Adeline Flach also won 6-2 to make Auburn just the third team this season to claim a doubles point over Tennessee.
.@carolynansari and @se_ovnc help Auburn claim the doubles point 👊
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) March 29, 2024
Tigers lead 1️⃣-0️⃣#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/9rRw0DcTUR
The Volunteers gained the momentum back quickly in singles, winning the opening set on five courts. Ansari was the only Tiger to win an opening set, but went on to her match in dominating fashion over No. 17 Sofia Cabezas 6-1, 6-1. Ansari won 75 percent of service points throughout the match and eight of her nine return games. The fifth-year senior's 16th overall singles win of the season gave Auburn a 2-0 lead.
Tennessee quickly tied the match with straight set wins on courts six and five to tie the match at two. Elza Tomase came back to edge out an opening set win over DJ Bennett 7-5 then caught fire in the second set to win the match 7-5, 6-2 and give the Volunteers their first lead of the night 3-2.
After dropping the first set, Okutoyi remained within one game of Esther Adeshina throughout the second set until the set reached a tiebreaker. The Auburn sophomore won the tiebreaker to force a decisive third set on court four just before Arseneault did the same on court three.
.@Okutoyiangella2 with a comeback win on court 3️⃣ to tie the match 👊#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/GFtTC55Ulf
— Auburn Women's Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) March 29, 2024
The two second-set tiebreaker wins gave the Tigers late life, knowing they must win both matches to claim a team victory.
In her third set against Adeshina, Okutoyi claimed three service games and three return games to finish off a 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 comeback victory that tied the match at three.
In a tight third set that was tied at three different points on court three, Arseneault won a clutch sixth game to force the match to be decided by a tiebreaker. Aulia prevailed in the close tiebreaker 7-5 to complete the comeback team win for the Volunteers.
Auburn will play its final home match of the season on Sunday at noon CT against No. 4 Georgia at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Fans in attendance will receive a free "All Auburn, All Orange" T-shirt while supplies last. A senior day ceremony will be held to honor Carolyn Ansari, Ariana Arseneault, Ali DeSpain and Adeline Flach following the match.
Live video and live stats of the match will be available online at AuburnTigers.com and the Auburn Tigers app.
#24 Tennessee 4, #16 Auburn 3
Singles Results:
1. #18 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def. #17 Sofia Cabezas (TENN) 6-1, 6-1
2. Elza Tomase (TENN) def. #62 DJ Bennett (AUB) 7-5, 6-2
3. Catherine Aulia (TENN) def. #74 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5)
4. #116 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Esther Adeshina (TENN) 1-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2
5. Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) def. Selin Ovunc (AUB) 6-4, 6-4
6. Leyla Britez Risso (TENN) def. Adeline Flach (AUB) 6-4, 6-2
Doubles Results:
1. #9 Ariana Arseneault/DJ Bennett (AUB) vs. #21 Elza Tomase/Sofia Cabezas (TENN) 5-3, unfinished
2. Angella Okutoyi/Adeline Flach (AUB) def. #49 Esther Adeshina/Alana Wolfberg (TENN) 6-2
3. Carolyn Ansari/Selin Ovunc (AUB) def. Catherine Aulia/Lauren Anzalotta (TENN) 6-2
Time of match: 3:48; Order of finish: Doubles: 3,2; Singles: 1,6,5,2,4,3; Official: Donna Jerome