TUCSON, Ariz. – No. 24 Auburn dropped its NCAA Championship second round match to ninth-ranked Arizona by a 4-0 score on Saturday at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center in Tucson, Arizona. With the loss, the Tigers' season comes to a close with an 18-11 overall record. This season marked the first time Auburn has reached the second round of the championship since 2012.
Arizona had a quick start in doubles, jumping out to a 2-1 lead on courts two and three. Tyler Stice and Will Nolan evened the match at three against Herman Hoeyeraal and Eric Padgham on court two, but ultimately lost 6-3. Arizona claimed court three by the same score moments later to pick up the doubles point. Auburn's top doubles team of Raul Dobai and Finn Murgett were leading 4-2 over No. 46 Colton Smith and Jay Friend when the match was abandoned.
The opening set of singles remained close on most courts. On the top singles court, Stice trailed 3-1 early in the set, but came back to tie it 4-4 before later dropping the set 7-5. Will Nolan also stayed close in a back-and-forth opening set against Nick Lagaev that later went Lagaev's way 7-5.
Murgett's first set against No. 35 Jay Friend was tied at five different points before entering a tiebreaker. Friend edged out Murgett in the tiebreaker to win the tight set. The Tigers needed a momentum shift, as they dropped the opening set on all six courts.
After clinching the first round team win for the Tigers on Friday, redshirt freshman Nicholas Heng bounced back from dropping his first set to Casper Christensen by claiming a 6-3 second set win to force a third on court five.
Arizona then earned straight set wins on courts four and six to grow its lead to 3-0. Billy Blaydes, who jumped out to a 4-1 lead in his second set with No. 70 Gustaf Strom, later entered a tiebreaker. 22nd ranked Colton Smith clinched the match for the Wildcats, defeating Stice 7-5, 6-3 to clinch the team victory and end Auburn's run at the NCAA Championship.
The match also marked the final dual match with the Tigers for seniors Raul Dobai, Finn Murgett and Tyler Stice.
During the 2024 campaign, Auburn recorded a 7-5 conference record and a 12-1 record in home matches. The team also earned wins over No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 16 South Carolina and No. 25 Florida. The Tigers have also been selected to participate in the NCAA Championship in each of the last three seasons and earned its 40th NCAA postseason bid in program history in 2024.
#9 Arizona 4, #24 Auburn 0
Singles Results:
1. #22 Colton Smith (ARIZ) def. #31 Tyler Stice (AUB) 7-5, 6-3
2. #63 Finn Murgett (AUB) vs. #35 Jay Friend (ARIZ) 6-7 (3), 5-5, unfinished
3. Billy Blaydes (AUB) vs. #70 Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) 2-6, 6-6 (9-8), unfinished
4. Herman Hoeyeraal (ARIZ) def. Raul Dobai (AUB) 6-3, 6-4
5. Nicholas Heng (AUB) vs. Casper Christensen (ARIZ) 3-6, 6-3, 0-1, unfinished
6. Nick Lagaev (ARIZ) def. Will Nolan (AUB) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles Results:
1. #21 Raul Dobai/Finn Murgett vs. #46 Colton Smith/Jay Friend (ARIZ) 4-2, unfinished
2. Herman Hoeyeraal/Eric Padgham (ARIZ) def. Will Nolan/Tyler Stice (AUB) 6-3
3. Sasha Rozin/Gustaf Strom (ARIZ) def. Billy Blaydes/Nicholas Heng (AUB) 6-3