AUBURN, Ala. – The 14th-ranked Auburn women's tennis team fought back from an early deficit to earn a 5-2 win over Georgia Tech Friday afternoon at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
The Tigers (5-0) shook off a Tech win in doubles that came down to a tiebreaker in the last match on, winning on five singles courts to pick up their second win in the last three meetings with the Yellow Jackets (0-3).
"Georgia Tech brought an immense amount of energy and fight today," Auburn head coach Caroline Lilley said. "They were loud and incredibly competitive. The composure we lacked in doubles, we certainly brought in the singles. I will do a better job of preparing us in a way where outside factors, uncontrollable elements, make us better and more capable of handling adversity.
"Routines and rituals are of the utmost importance as we continue to chop wood and carry water. The response in singles across the board showed great maturity, and there is a lot we can learn and build on from today."
With Tech ahead 1-0, Georgie Axon got the Tigers on the board with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Monika Dedaj at the No. 5 singles spot. Carolyn Ansari then put Auburn in the lead as she defeated Tech's Mahak Jain in straight sets, 7-6 (2), 6-2.
Auburn's third point came from Ariana Arseneault, making her home debut, as she topped 69th-ranked Ava Hrastar in three sets, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. A big comeback on court six would clinch the win for Auburn as Yu Chen overcame a first-set loss to defeat Kate Sharabura, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.
The remaining matches would be played to completion. Selin Ovunc, ranked 79th in singles, would fight off several match points at the top singles spot before falling to No. 85 Carol Lee, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. And Adeline Flach would finish out the day with a hard-fought 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 win on court four over Rosie Garcia Gross.
In doubles, Ansari and Madeline Meredith got the first win of the day for Auburn with a 6-3 victory over Dedaj and Hrastar. After Ovunc and Arseneault dropped a 6-3 decision at the top spot to Lee and Sharabura, it came down to a tiebreaker on court two. Axon and Flach fought to the last point but ultimately came up short, 7-6 (8-6).
The Tigers are back in action Sunday with a home doubleheader at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Auburn welcomes Clemson at 11 a.m. followed by a match with Alabama A&M at 3 p.m. Admission is free to all Auburn home tennis matches.
#14 Auburn 5, Georgia Tech 2
Singles
1. #85 Carol Lee (GT) def. #79 Selin Ovunc (AU), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
2. Ariana Arseneault (AU) def. #69 Ava Hrastar (GT), 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
3. #115 Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Mahak Jain (GT), 7-6 (2), 6-2
4. Adeline Flach (AU) def. Rosie Garcia Gross (GT), 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
5. Georgie Axon (AU) def. Monika Dedaj (GT), 6-1, 6-1
6. Yu Chen (AU) def. Kate Sharabura (GT), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
Order of finish: 5, 3, 2, 6*, 1, 4
Doubles
1. Lee/Sharabura (GT) def. Ovunc/Arseneault (AU), 6-3
2. Cohen/Marsh (GT) def. Axon/Flach (AU), 7-6 (6)
3. Ansari/Meredith (AU) def. Dedaj/Hrastar (GT), 6-3
Order of finish: 3, 1, 2*