NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Auburn women's tennis team once again fought to the finish against a nationally ranked opponent but came up short in a 4-1 loss to No. 14 Vanderbilt Friday afternoon.
The Tigers (7-6, 0-3 SEC) fell behind early but were able to push the remaining matches to deciding sets. The Commodores, however, were able to pick up the clinching point before Auburn could finish off a comeback.
"College tennis is a team sport, and today we didn't have all of our players on the same page," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "I am proud of the way some of our girls competed down the stretch amidst challenging circumstances – what an amazing effort and some very bold play. In the end, the team that competes together, as a unit, unshakably together, is the team that rises to the top. Great competitors find responses when it is most difficult to do so, regardless of how they feel, and I need to make sure that message is communicated effectively to all members of our team."
Senior Georgie Axon picked up the lone win for Auburn with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Amanda Meyer at the No. 4 spot. Freshman Carolyn Ansari fought back from losing her first set to take Marcella Cruz the distance at the No. 5 position but came up short in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 loss.
Vanderbilt got wins from its top two singles players to take a 3-0 lead as No. 18 Christina Rosca defeated Auburn's Taylor Russo, 6-1, 6-3, and No. 28 Georgia Drummy downed No. 64 Selin Ovunc, 6-2, 6-4.
Yu Chen was two points away from victory when her match was halted on court 3; she led 5-4 in the third set and was serving at 30-all. And Madeline Meredith was up a set on court 6 when the match ended.
In doubles, Vanderbilt took the point with wins on courts 1 and 3. Kurtz and Drummy downed Auburn's 14th-ranked Ovunc and Russo, 6-3, and Chen and Ansari fell on court 3 by the same score.
Auburn wraps up its road swing Sunday with an 11 a.m. CT match at No. 34 Kentucky. Live scoring is available at UKAthletics.com.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
#14 Vanderbilt 4, #50 Auburn 1
Singles
1. #18 Christina Rosca (VU) def. #83 Taylor Russo (AU), 6-1, 6-3
2. #28 Georgia Drummy (VU) def. #64 Selin Ovunc (AU), 6-2, 6-4
3. Yu Chen (AU) vs. Emma Kurtz (VU), 6-3, 1-6, 5-4 unfinished
4. Georgie Axon (AU) def. Amanda Meyer (VU), 6-2, 6-2
5. Marcella Cruz (VU) def. Carolyn Ansari (AU), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
6. Madeline Meredith (AU) vs. Dasha Kourkina (VU), 6-2, 2-2 unfinished
Order of finish: 1, 2, 4, 5
Doubles
1. Drummy/Kurtz (VU) def. #14 Ovunc/Russo (AU), 6-3
2. Cruz/Rosca (VU) vs. Meredith/Axon (AU), 5-2 unfinished
3. Meyer/Kourkina (VU) def. Chen/Ansari (AU), 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3