AUBURN, Ala. – History was made Sunday afternoon as the Auburn women's tennis team, for the first time in program history, defeated the 22nd-ranked Florida Gators with a 4-2 win at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
For the second straight match, the Tigers (7-1, 2-0 SEC) found themselves behind 2-0 after dropping the doubles point and falling at the top singles line. But for the second time in three days, Auburn showcased its singles depth down the line as they fought back to claim a win and finish off a weekend sweep in SEC play for the first time since 2018.
"Not often is a coach blessed with a group of young women who bring consistent joy to the practice court," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "These girls make coming to work every day, grinding to improve, an absolute privilege.
"Growth is the result of tireless work, commitment and discipline. The minute details add up, and over time, those details lead to unprecedented development. The goal always remains the same: to enjoy the process and the journey as we strive for excellence."
In a series that dates back to 1982 – a stretch of 44 matches – the Tigers had never beaten the Gators. It nearly happened last year, with the team score tied 3-3 and the last match on going to a third-set tiebreak. But the Gators prevailed by the slimmest of margins to extend the decades-long streak.
No such dramatics would be necessary Sunday as Auburn, with a 3-2 lead, had two matches in third sets. Carolyn Ansari and Taylor Russo had both fought their way back from first-set losses to force deciding sets at the third and fifth singles spots. Ansari broke serve in the first game, but then had her serve broken a few games later to even the set at 3-3. Meanwhile, Russo fell behind a break but got one back to get back on serve at 3-all.
Moments later, Ansari got another break then held to take a 5-3 lead. Her third break of the final set would prove to be the clinching team point as she finished off UF's Ida Jarlskog, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Russo was 4-4 in the third set with Florida's Sydney Berlin when play was halted.
After falling behind 2-0, Auburn won the next three matches to take its first lead of the day. Yu Chen got the Tigers on the board with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Marlee Zein at the No. 2 spot. Just seconds later, the score was tied as freshman Adeline Flach earned her first SEC victory with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at the No. 6 position. Georgie Axon, who dropped the third-set tiebreaker and decisive match last year against Florida, found a measure of redemption with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Sara Dahlstrom on court four.
Florida claimed the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead. Ansari and Madeline Meredith fell 6-1 to Berlin and McGinnis, but a 6-2 win from Axon and Flach at the No. 2 spot sent the deciding point to court one. But the 11th-ranked pairing of Russo and Selin Ovunc came up short to 26th-ranked McCartney Kessler and Zein, 7-5. Ovunc dropped her singles match to 32nd-ranked Kessler at the top spot, 6-1, 6-2, as the Gators took a 2-0 lead.
The Tigers will take their first 2-0 SEC start since 2017 on the road next weekend as they face Vanderbilt (Friday, 3 p.m. CT) and Kentucky (Sunday, 11 a.m. CT).
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Auburn 4, #22 Florida 2
Singles
1. #32 McCartney Kessler (UF) def. #62 Selin Ovunc (AU), 6-1, 6-2
2. Yu Chen (AU) def. Marlee Zein (UF), 6-3, 6-2
3. Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Ida Jarlskog (UF), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
4. Georgie Axon (AU) def. Sara Dahlstrom (UF), 6-3, 6-4
5. #99 Taylor Russo (AU) vs. Sydney Berlin (UF), 5-7, 6-1, 4-4 unfinished
6. Adeline Flach (AU) def. Amber McGinnis (UF), 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 2, 6, 4, 3*
Doubles
1. #26 Kessler/Zein (UF) def. #11 Ovunc/Russo (AU), 7-5
2. Axon/Flach (AU) def. Dahlstrom/Jarlskog (UF), 6-3
3. Berlin/McGinnis (UF) def. Ansari/Meredith (AU), 6-1
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1*
Auburn 7-1, 2-0 SEC
Florida 3-4, 1-1 SEC
Time of match: 3:05