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No.14 Auburn University women’s tennis team suffered its second consecutive defeat at the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. The Tigers lost 4-1 to Texas A&M in a consolation game at the event. Auburn’s only run came from Angella Okutoyi, who hit a singles victory on court four.
With the win, Texas A&M improves to a 5-4 record while Auburn drops to 4-3 this season. Today, Auburn will play its final match of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships.
Great effort comes up short in Seattle pic.twitter.com/VSpNRv6iap
— Auburn Women’s Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) February 11, 2024
A Day Two Victory 💪
Texas A&M takes down Auburn in today’s consolation match at the ITA Division I Women’s National Team Indoor Championship!#WeAreCollegeTennis | #ITAIndoors pic.twitter.com/AnH4KxZcGk
— ITA (@ITA_Tennis) February 11, 2024
Selin Ovunc and Carolyn Ansari started doubles strong, starting with a 3-0 lead over Sydney Fitch and Gianna Pielet. The Tigers then suffered a 6-1 loss to Mia Kupres and Mary Stoiana.
DJ Bennett and Adeline Flach fought back to cut the game deficit to 5–4, but ultimately lost the game 6–4 giving Texas A&M the double point. Ovunc and Ansari had held the lead, which was relinquished with the Auburn duo leading 5- 2.
In singles, Okutoyi never trailed in her opening set against Lucciana Perez and won 6-2 as the Aggies took the first set on all five other courts. Ariana Arseneault’s match against Nicole Khirin became the first match to end, with Khirin earning a 6- 3, 6-4 victory for the Aggies in a match that lasted just over an hour. Texas A&M won another match in straight sets, taking a 3-0 lead.
With the Aggies just one singles match away from a team victory, Okutoyi came back from a 2-0 second set deficit to win the match 6-2, 6-3, to give Auburn its first point of the team. The win marks Okutoyi’s third singles win of the season. Carolyn Ansari’s match against No. 1 Mary Stoiana was abandoned with Stoiana leading 6-3, 5-4.
. @Okutoyiangella2 gets Auburn on the board with its first singles win of the night 👊
Tigers trail 3-1#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/fh1V6Fij12
— Auburn Women’s Tennis (@AuburnWTennis) February 11, 2024
Women’s doubles:
1. #3 Mia Kupres/Mary Stoiana (TAMU) def. Ariana Arseneault/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) 6-1
2. Nicole Khirin/Lucciana Perez (TAMU) def. DJ Bennet/Adeline Flach (AUB) 6-4
3. Sydney Fitch/Gianna Pielet (TAMU) vs. Selin Ovunc/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) 2-5, unfinished
Women’s singles:
1. #1 Mary Stoiana (TAMU) vs. #13 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) 6-3, 5-4, unfinished
2. #32 Nicole Khirin (TAMU) def. #61 Ariana Arseneault (AUB) 6-3, 6-4
3. #24 Mia Kupres (TAMU) def. #43 DJ Bennett (AUB) 6-1, 7-5
4. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Lucciana Perez (TAMU) 6-2, 6-3
5. Daria Smetannikov (TAMU) vs. #104 Selin Ovunc (AUB) 6-4, 2-6, unfinished
6. Jeanette Mireles (TAMU) def. Ava Esposito Cogan (AUB) 6-2, 6-4