MOBILE, Ala. – South Alabama women's tennis suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling to No. 14 ranked Auburn on the road.
In the loss, South Alabama claimed just one set in singles play.
Auburn opened the day with a win at number two doubles, where the duo of DJ Bennett and Carolyn Ansari beat
Manal Ennaciri and
Chems Doha Zeghlouli 6-2. The Tigers clinched the doubles point with a 6-3 win at the number three spot from Ali Despain and Ava Esposito Cogan over
Nikola Novotna and
Lara van der Merwe.
In singles action, Auburn extended its lead to 2-0 with a win from Angella Okutoyi, beating
Manal Ennaciri in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0.
Nikola Novotna dropped her match to No. 34 ranked DJ Bennett at the number three spot, falling 0-6, 2-6.
The Tigers clinched the 4-0 win following a win at number two singles, with a 6-2, 6-2 win from Ariana Arseneault over
Elysia Pool.
The three remaining matches went unfinished, with No. 8 Carolyn Ansaria from Auburn up 6-2, 5-4 at court one over
Tereza Dejnozkova and Ali Despain up 6-4, 2-2 on
Otoha Aoki at number six.
South Alabama held the advantage at number five, with
Chems Doha Zeghlouli winning her first set 6-3 over Ava Esposito Cogan, while the second set was tied 4-4.
Match Results
February 4, 2024
3 pm – Auburn, Ala.
Singles
1. #8 Carolyn Ansari (AUB) vs.
Tereza Dejnozkova (USA) 6-2, 5-4, unfinished
2. Ariana Arseneault (AUB) def.
Elysia Pool (USA) 6-2, 6-2
3. #34 DJ Bennett (AUB) def.
Nikola Novotna (USA) 6-0, 6-2
4. Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def.
Manal Ennaciri (USA) 6-1, 6-0
5. Ava Esposito Cogan (AUB) vs.
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) 3-6, 4-4, unfinished
6. Ali Despain (AUB) vs.
Otoha Aoki (USA) 6-4, 2-2, unfinished
Doubles
1. Ariana Arseneault/Angella Okutoyi (AUB) vs.
Tereza Dejnozkova/
Elysia Pool (USA) 5-3, unfinished
2. DJ Bennett/Carolyn Ansari (AUB) def.
Manal Ennaciri/
Chems Doha Zeghlouli (USA) 6-2
3. Ali Despain/Ava Esposito Cogan (AUB) def.
Nikola Novotna/
Lara van der Merwe (USA) 6-2
Quotable from coach Dr. Jaco Keyser
"No doubt a bad break going indoors against a team who just qualified for National Indoors. Having said that I think collectively we are disappointed that we got dominated in the basic fundamentals of serve and return. Uphill battle when that happens. Good reminder of the improvements we need to make in order to achieve our goals this year."
Up Next
South Alabama stays on the road, traveling to Natchitoches for matches against Sam Houston and Northwestern State Feb. 10 and 11.
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