ATHENS, Ga. – The 17th-ranked Auburn women's tennis team built an early lead on No. 3 Georgia, but the Bulldogs fought back late in the match to take a 4-2 win Saturday in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Tigers (12-7, 7-6 SEC) won the doubles point and got a win at the third singles spot from Carolyn Ansari, but the depth of Georgia (16-1, 12-0) proved to be too much down the stretch.
"Unshakeable competitors are relentless in how they approach every circumstance," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "What makes someone difficult to beat is the ability to play present, completely immersed in a moment so solutions are found. Georgia made us better today and played with tremendous poise.
"We have a lot of tennis ahead of us. As we march forward with conviction, I am excited to remain steadfast in how we prepare. With options on the court comes decisions, knowing when to use what. We will continue to fine-tune our craft, sharpen our skillset, and be better tomorrow because of today."
Auburn took an early 1-0 lead as Georgia dropped the doubles point for just the second time all season. Georgie Axon and Adeline Flach picked up their biggest win of the season at the top doubles spot, defeating UGA's No. 3-ranked tandem of Katarina Jokic and Ariana Arsenault, 6-2, to give Auburn the early advantage. Yu Chen and Anastasia Astakhova came up short in a 6-3 loss at the third doubles spot, setting up a showdown on court two. Selin Ovunc and Carolyn Ansari pushed UGA's Elena Christofi and Morgan Coppoc to a tiebreaker, pulling through with a 7-5 win in the breaker to give the Tigers an early lead.
Georgia tied things up as Chen fell to 59th-ranked Lea Ma at the second spot, 6-4, 6-2, but Auburn pulled back ahead as Ansari took down the highest-ranked opponent of her career with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 12 Meg Kowalski. It was the second top-50 win of the weekend for Ansari, who also defeated Tennessee's 45th-ranked Carly Briggs on Thursday.
From there, though, Georgia would not allow Auburn to add to its lead. Axon came up short to 61st-ranked Coppoc, 6-4, 6-3, and Ovunc dropped a hard-fought battle to No. 1 Jokic, 6-4, 6-4.
Playing indoors in UGA's four-court facility, Flach and Astakhova had the last two matches on. Astakhova's match was the first to finish as Christofi clinched the win for UGA, 6-3, 6-2. Flach was trailing 6-2, 5-2 to 92nd-ranked Marta Gonzalez when the match ended.
The Tigers have next week off before postseason play begins at the SEC Tournament in Tuscaloosa. The tournament runs April 19-23; brackets and matchups will be announced next week.
For the latest on Auburn women's tennis, follow @AuburnWTennis on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
#3 Georgia 4, #17 Auburn 2
Singles
1. #1 Katarina Jokic (UGA) def. #62 Selin Ovunc (AU), 6-4, 6-4
2. #59 Lea Ma (UGA) def. #100 Yu Chen (AU), 6-4, 6-2
3. Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. #12 Meg Kowalski (UGA), 6-1, 6-4
4. #61 Morgan Coppoc (UGA) def. Georgie Axon (AU), 6-4, 6-3
5. #92 Marta Gonzalez (UGA) vs. Adeline Flach (AU), 6-2, 5-2 unfinished
6. Elena Christofi (UGA) def. Anastasia Astakhova (AU), 6-3, 6-2
Order of finish: 2, 3, 4, 1, 6
Doubles
1. Axon/Flach (AU) def. #3 Jokic/Arsenault (UGA), 6-2
2. Ansari/Ovunc (AU) def. Christofi/Coppoc (UGA), 7-6 (5)
3. Ma/Kowalski (UGA) def. Chen/Astakhova (AU), 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2