AUBURN, Ala. – For the fifth consecutive season, Auburn women’s tennis will compete in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship after the No. 4 Tigers shut out Florida State 4-0 on Sunday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
“It was a great performance and I think our best match of the year,” Auburn head coach Jordan Szabo said. “Florida State played great doubles, and the doubles point was very tight. We built some early leads, and I wish we could have continued those, but we didn’t and ended up in a dogfight. We found ways to come out with the win, and we were at match point at No. 1 doubles as well.
“Some players are new to college tennis and new to our team, and there was a little bit of a lapse from some of the newer players. You have to keep your foot on the gas, and some of the courts didn’t do that. But we found ways to win some sets that we started slow. Against a team like Florida State, winning the doubles point and five first sets put a lot of pressure on them.”
With a win over Tulane on Saturday and the victory over Florida State on Sunday, Auburn won its ITA Kickoff Weekend site to earn a bid to ITA National Indoors.
“I told the girls that I know we have a high ranking and expectations, but to enjoy this,” Szabo said. “We’re very excited to make Indoors and for the great opportunities up there. It’s one step closer to reaching our goal of trying to win ITA National Indoors.”
In doubles, Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat fell behind early before winning the final three games to claim a 6-4 victory. On court three, Ekaterina Khairutdinova and Ashton Bowers built a 5-2 advantage over Mary Boyce Deatherage and Cade Cricchio before securing a 6-4 win to clinch the doubles point for the Tigers.
Bowers cruised at the No. 5 singles position, defeating Kristyna Lavickova 6-1, 6-1 to give Auburn a 2-0 lead. At No. 3 singles, Refaat earned a 6-2 first-set win over Laura Putz with a pair of late breaks before blanking her opponent in the second set.
Moments later, Auburn senior Angella Okutoyi closed out a dominant 6-1, 6-1 victory at the No. 2 position to clinch the team win and complete the shutout of the Seminoles. The win marks Auburn’s third victory over Florida State in program history.
The victory improved Auburn’s record to 9-0 on the season, with all wins coming at home. The Tigers will travel for their first road matches of the year, beginning with No. 10 Oklahoma State at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, followed by No. 7 Michigan at 5 p.m. CT on Monday. The ITA National Team Indoor Championship will be held Feb. 6–10 in Evanston and Champaign, Illinois.
#4 Auburn 4, Florida State 0
Singles Results:
- E. Khairutdinova (AUB) vs. Eva Shaw (FSU) 7-5, 2-1, unfinished
- Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Millie Bissett (FSU) 6-1, 6-1
- Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Laura Putz (FSU) 6-2, 6-0
- Stefani Webb (AUB) vs. M.B. Deatherage (FSU) 4-6, 2-2, unfinished
- Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Kristyna Lavickova (FSU) 6-1, 6-1
- Eva Ionescu (AUB) vs. Tina Li (FSU) 7-5, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles Results:
- DJ Bennett/Stefani Webb (AUB) vs. Eva Shaw/Millie Bissett (FSU) 5-4, unfinished
- Angella Okutoyi/Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Laura Putz/Tina Li (FSU) 6-4
- Ashton Bowers/E. Khairutdinova (AUB) def. M.B. Deatherage/Cade Cricchio (FSU) 6-4
Time of match: 2:00 Order of finish: Doubles: 2,3; Singles: 5,3,2 Official: Donna Jerome