TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Auburn women's tennis team picked up five wins Friday on the opening day of the SEC Challenge, hosted by Alabama.
The Tigers earned three singles victories and picked up a pair of wins in doubles as play got underway at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.
"We are improving and that is what we are here to do," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "Knowing how to utilize our strengths to disrupt, while applying consistent pressure, is something we will continue to be steadfast about. Progress requires a daily commitment to being great in the areas mediocrity ignores."
Auburn started the day with two doubles victories. Freshman Adeline Flach made her Auburn debut alongside senior Georgie Axon to earn a 7-5 win over Mississippi State's team of Mikhailuk and Poling. Auburn's team of Yu Chen and Carolyn Ansari got another victory, defeating MSU's Falceto and Racine, 6-3. The Tigers fell just short in their remaining doubles match as Taylor Russo and Shir Azran dropped a 6-4 decision to Ole Miss' team of Bortles and Machalova.
In singles, Azran bounced back to earn her first win as a Tiger with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Bortles. Russo also defeated MSU's Lilian Poling, 7-5, 6-2, and Ansari won the first set of her match 6-4 and earned the victory when MSU's Tamara Racine retired.
Chen came up short against Machalova, 6-2, 6-3; Axon dropped a 6-1, 6-2 decision to Ole Miss' Tiphanie Fiquet, and Flach fell to the Rebels' Lillian Gabrielsen, 6-3, 6-4.
Day two of the SEC Challenge gets underway for Auburn at 2 p.m. CT as the Tigers will take on opponents from Alabama in doubles and singles. Live video is available at rolltide.com.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Auburn Results – Friday, Oct. 23
SEC Challenge – Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Singles
Sabina Machalova (OM) def. Yu Chen (AU) 6-2, 6-3
Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Tamara Racine (MSU) 6-4, ret.
Tiphanie Fiquet (OM) def. Georgie Axon (AU) 6-1, 6-2
Taylor Russo (AU) def. Lilian Poling (MSU) 7-5, 6-2
Lillian Gabrielsen (OM) def. Adeline Flach (AU) 6-3, 6-4
Shir Azran (AU) def. Alexa Bortles (OM) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles
Machalova/Bortles (OM) def. Russo/Azran (AU), 6-4
Axon/Flach (AU) def. Mikhailuk/Poling (MSU), 7-5
Chen/Ansari (AU) def. Falceto/Racine (MSU), 6-3