BATON ROUGE, La. – Both remaining Auburn singles players and doubles teams advanced to the main draw semifinals with Sunday victories at the ITA Southern Regional Championships.
"We responded to adversity today really well," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "We embraced finding solutions rather than focusing on the problems. Choosing to reward ourselves when we do the right things will continue to allow us to play gritty, aggressive tennis. The competitiveness the girls brought today, along with the energy, intensity and grit, is a testament to the character of this team."
In doubles, the team of senior Taylor Russo and freshman Selin Ovunc earned a huge victory over a nationally-ranked opponent, downing the 14th-ranked team of Adaloglou/Racine of Mississippi State, 8-4. And the team of junior Madeline Meredith and senior Georgie Axon also defeated their Mississippi State opponent, winning 8-5 over Antonaki/Mikhailuk.
Auburn's two remaining players in the singles draw also earned victories to advance to the semifinals. Ovunc defeated Ole Miss' Isolde de Jong in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, and Russo won a three-set thriller over the Rebels' Anna Vrbenska, 7-6 (1), 6-7 (1), 6-3.
The Tigers also picked up three wins in the singles back draw. Yu Chen made quick work of Tulane's Lahari Yelamanchili, 6-1, 6-0; Axon downed UAB's Jana Hecking, 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (6), and Carolyn Ansari got a win over MSU's Mikhailuk, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 1-0 (6).
Russo/Ovunc will face Vrbenska/Janatova of Ole Miss, and Meredith/Axon will take on Richardson/Geisler of LSU in Monday's doubles semifinals, set to begin at 9 a.m. CT. Singles semifinals will follow, with Russo facing LSU's Taylor Bridges and Ovunc taking on LSU's Paris Corley. Live stats and live video will be available at LSUsports.net.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Auburn Women's Tennis Results – Sunday, Oct. 20
ITA Southern Regional Championships
Main Draw Singles – Quarterfinals
Selin Ovunc (AU) def. Isolde de Jong (OM), 7-5, 6-3
Taylor Russo (AU) def. Anna Vrbenska (OM), 7-6 (1), 6-7 (1), 6-3
Main Draw Doubles - Quarterfinals
Meredith/Axon (AU) def. Antonaki/Mikhailuk (MSU), 8-5
Russo/Ovunc (AU) def. #14 Adaloglou/Racine (MSU), 8-4
Singles Back Draw
Georgie Axon (AU) def. Jana Hecking (UAB), 4-6, 6-4, 1-0 (6)
Anna Loughlan (LSU) def. Madeline Meredith (AU), 6-3, 4-6, 1-0 (8)
Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Alexandra Mikhailuk (MSU), 6-3, 6-7 (3), 1-0 (6)
Alba Cortina Pou (ALA) def. Caraline Scheufler (AU), 6-2, 6-3
Yu Chen (AU) def. Lahari Yelamanchili (TULN), 6-1, 6-0
Adelaide Lavenry (TULN) def. Lindsay Song (AU), 7-6 (6), 6-2
Doubles Back Draw
Lizariturry/Falceto (MSU) def. Song/Scheufler (AU), 8-3
Ito/Harvison (ALA) def. Chen/Ansari (AU), 8-6