AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn sophomore Ashton Bowers punched her ticket to the NCAA Singles Championship by finishing as singles co-champion at the ITA Southern Regional Championships, which concluded Friday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center in Auburn, Alabama.
“Congratulations to Ashton for being the co-champion and qualifying for the NCAA Individuals in Orlando,” Auburn head coach Jordan Szabo said after the event. “She was battling some injuries this week and showed great strength and toughness in progressing without losing a set. Excited for her to continue to build.
“Thank you to Misti Higgs, Hanna Arntsen, Riley Hubbard, the officials and the City of Auburn for putting on a fantastic event here in Auburn.”
Bowers began her run in the main draw with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Natalia Fantini of Tulane on Tuesday, then followed with another straight-set victory over Amina Salibayeva of Alabama to reach the round of 16. A second-set tiebreaker win over Troy’s Valeriia Avdeeva helped the Auburn sophomore advance to the quarterfinals, where she defeated Alabama’s Zara Larke 6-4, 6-1.
With an NCAA Singles Championship bid on the line in Friday’s semifinal match, Bowers won the opening set over LSU’s Addison Lanton. Lanton then jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the second set before Bowers won six consecutive games to clinch the victory and earn co-champion honors.
Auburn sophomore Alice Battesti also had a strong showing in the singles championship, reaching the quarterfinals. Battesti earned straight-set wins over Jacksonville State’s Isabella Sambola and North Alabama’s Mathilde Delaney. A crucial first-set tiebreaker helped push Battesti to a 7-6 (13), 4-6, 6-3 win over Ole Miss’ Brooklyn Olson.
Natalie Outcalt and Ava Esposito both fell in the opening round of the singles championship but each earned straight-set wins in consolation play.
Up next, Auburn players will compete in the ITA South Sectional Championships at the LSU Tennis Complex in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Six singles players and three doubles teams will earn bids to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships through the event.
Monday Results:
Kenza Elakili/Manal Ennaciri (USA) def. Alice Battesti/Natalie Outcalt (AUB) 8-4
Tuesday Results:
Natalia Perez (TUL) def. Natalie Outcalt (AUB) 7-6 (6), 6-4
Alice Battesti (AUB) def. Isabella Sambola (JAX) 6-0, 6-1
Kinaa Graham (LSU) def. Ava Esposito (AUB) 6-4, 7-5
#48 Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Natalia Fantini (TUL) 6-1, 6-2
Natalie Outcalt (AUB) def. Kenza Elakili (USA) 6-3, 6-2
Ava Esposito (AUB) def. Ichino Horikawa (MISS) 6-2, 6-1
Alice Battesti (AUB) def. Mathilde Delaney (UNA) 6-0, 6-3
#48 Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Amina Salibayeva (ALA) 6-3, 6-0
Wednesday Results:
Alice Battesti (AUB) def. Brooklyn Olson (MISS) 7-6 (13), 4-6, 6-3
#48 Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Valeriia Avdeeva (TROY) 6-4, 7-6 (5)
Ava Esposito (AUB) def. Campbell Ricci (TUL) 6-2, 6-2
Natalie Outcalt (AUB) def. Mathilde Delaney (UNA) 7-5, 6-3
Mathilde Delaney (UNA) def. Ava Esposito (AUB) 6-2, 6-1
Natalie Outcalt (AUB) def. Ana Hollweg (MCNST) 7-5, 6-4
Thursday Results:
#67 Emily Welker (MISS) def. Alice Battesti (AUB) 6-3, 6-3
#48 Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Zara Larke (ALA) 6-4, 6-1
Friday Results:
#48 Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Addison Lanton (LSU) 6-2, 6-2