No. 11 Auburn Too Much For No. 28 Kentucky

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 28 Kentucky women’s tennis team could not overpower 11th-ranked Auburn as it dropped a 6-1 decision to its Southeastern Conference foe on Sunday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. Following the loss, the Wildcats fall to 11-3 (0-2) on the season while the Tigers improve to 11-2 (2-0).
 
Auburn began the match by earning the doubles point after Madeline Meredith and Carolyn Ansari first defeated Carlota Molina and Lidia Gonzalez, 6-2, on court three. The Tigers then clinched the opening point when No. 44 Selin Ovunc and Ariana Arsenault topped No. 60 Fiona Arrese and Florencia Urrutia, 6-2, in the first spot.

The Tigers then extended their lead to three by claiming the first two points in singles action. Carla Girbau could not overcome No. 60 Ovunc on court one, falling to her competitor in a 6-0, 6-2 outcome. No. 104 Ansari also bested Arrese, 6-1, 6-4, in the third position.

Urrutia then put the Wildcats on the board after a singles win on court four. She took down Adeline Flach, 6-2, 6-4, to improve her singles record to 11-1 on the season. However, Yu Chen won her match in back-to-back 6-2 sets over Maialen Morante on court six to clinch the match for Auburn.

The Wildcats return to Lexington for a doubleheader on Friday, March 11 at the Hilary J. Boone Tennis Center, first hosting Missouri at 12 p.m. ET. Kentucky then closes out its non-conference schedule versus Bellarmine at 4 p.m.

No. 11 Auburn 6, No. 28 Kentucky 1

Singles
1. No. 60 Selin Ovunc (AU) def. Carla Girbau (UK) 6-0, 6-2
2. No. 52 Ariana Arsenault (AU) def. No. 89 Carlota Molina (UK) 6-2, 6-7 (10-12), 1-0 (10-4)
3. No. 104 Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Fiona Arrese (UK) 6-1, 6-4
4. Florencia Urrutia (UK) def. Adeline Flach (AU) 6-2, 6-4
5. Georgie Axon (AU) def. Ellie Eades (UK) 2-6, 6-2, 6-2
6. Yu Chen (AU) def. Maialen Morante (UK) 6-2, 6-2
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4, 6*, 5, 2

Doubles
1. No. 44 Selin Ovunc/Ariana Arsenault (AU) def. No. 60 Fiona Arrese/Florencia Urrutia (UK) 6-2
2. Carla Girbau/Ellie Eades (UK) vs. Georgia Axon/Adeline Flach (AU) Unfinished 
3. Madeline Meredith/Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Carlota Molina/Lidia Gonzalez (UK) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 1*

For the latest on the Kentucky women’s tennis program, follow @UKWomensTennis on Twitter and Instagram, on Facebook, and on the web at UKathletics.com.