GREENVILLE, S.C. - Auburn slipped past Furman, 4-3, Sunday at the Mickel Tennis Center in Greenville, S.C., in the season opener for both teams.
The Tigers won two out of three doubles matches to claim the first point. Junior Madison Dillon and freshman Ellie Schoppe blanked Adeline Flach and Georgie Axon, 6-0, to give Furman a quick advantage, but Carolyn Ansari and Yu Chen defeated seniors MaryAnn Rompf and Georgie Walker, 6-3, at number three to even the slate. In the decisive flight one contest, Selin Ovunc and Taylor Russo held off senior Katarina Kozarov and junior Julia Adams, 6-4.
In singles action, Ansari topped Dillon, 6-0, 6-1, at flight three to give Auburn a 2-0 advantage before Furman came back with victories at flights one and two to even the score. Kozarov downed Ovunc, 6-1, 6-2, at number one, and Adams posted a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 advantage over Chen at flight two.
Russo beat sophomore Maggie Pate, 6-2, 6-2, at flight five to give Auburn a 3-2 lead before Flach clinched the match with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Walker at flight six. At flight four, Furman's Rompf outlasted Axon, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6(5), in the final match of the day.
Furman (0-1) travels to Knoxville Monday for an 11 a.m. match up against Tennessee at the Goodfriend Tennis Center. No spectators are allowed at the event, but live stats and live video will be available at http://www.furmanpaladins.com.
Auburn 4, Furman 3
Singles competition
1. Katarina Kozarov (FUR) def. Selin Ovunc (AU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Julia Adams (FUR) def. Yu Chen (AU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
3. Carolyn Ansari (AU) def.Madison Dillon (FUR) 6-0, 6-1
4. MaryAnn Rompf (FUR) def. Georgie Axon (AU) 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Taylor Russo (AU) def. Maggie Pate (FUR) 6-2, 6-2
6. Adeline Flach (AU) def. Georgie Walker (FUR) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Selin Ovunc/Taylor Russo (AU) def. Katarina Kozarov/Julia Adams (FUR) 6-4
2. Madison Dillon/Ellie Schoppe (FUR) def. Georgie Axon/Adeline Flach (AU) 6-1
3. Carolyn Ansari/Yu Chen (AU) def. MaryAnn Rompf/Georgie Walker (FUR) 6-3
Match Notes:
Auburn 1-0
Furman 0-1
Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,1,2,5,6,4)