CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Junior Carolyn Ansari advanced to the final of her draw to highlight a three-win day for the Tigers Saturday at the Kitty Harrison Invitational.
"I challenged our team last night to do three things better: stick to a plan, play courageously, and recognize the moment," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "Although we didn't find the response in doubles we hoped for, as the day progressed we grew in all three areas. When you see the finish line you kick it in, not sometimes, but every single time."
All four Auburn singles matches went to third-set match tiebreakers with the Tigers prevailing in three of the four. Ansari, ranked 45th nationally, earned her first win of the year over a ranked opponent, downing No. 68 Malkia Ngounoue of Kansas, 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10). She will face 88th-ranked Reilly Tran of North Carolina in the final of the Blue draw.
In consolation matches in the other three draws, Auburn won two of three. Ariana Arseneault defeated Virginia's Sara Ziodato, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 1-0 (9), and Yu Chen downed Saby Nihalani of Wake Forest, 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (4). Adeline Flach came up just short to Old Dominion's Sofia Johnson, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (5).
Both Auburn doubles teams advanced on walkovers in their first scheduled matches of the day. Ansari and Arseneault later came up short to ODU's 57th-ranked team of Starodubsteva and Sasnouskaya, 6-1, and the team of Flach and Chen dropped a 6-2 match to Schech and Quitiero of Charlotte.
Final-round play begins at 8 a.m. CT Sunday with one round each of doubles and singles scheduled. Live scoring is not available, but links to live video can be found on the women's tennis schedule page at AuburnTigers.com.
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Kitty Harrison Invitational – Saturday, Sept. 25
Singles – Semifinals
#45 Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. #68 Malkia Ngounoue (KU), 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (10)
Singles – Consolation
Ariana Arseneault (AU) def. Sara Ziodato (UVA), 6-7 (5), 6-1, 1-0 (9)
Yu Chen (AU) def. Saby Nihalani (WF), 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (4)
Sofia Johnson (ODU) def. Adeline Flach (AU), 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (5)
Doubles
Ansari/Arseneault (AU) def. Chen/Berankova (DUKE), walkover
#57 Starodubtseva/Sasnouskaya (ODU) def. Ansari/Arseneault (AU), 6-1
Flach/Chen (AU) def. Patel/McClure (UNC), walkover
Schech/Quitiero (CHAR) def. Flach/Chen (AU), 6-2