The Auburn women's tennis team made a powerful statement at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship in Evanston, Illinois, finishing with a 2-1 record in the event. The Tigers faced top collegiate competition, No. 4 Stanford, No. 1 Georgia, and No. 8 North Carolina, showing determination as they advanced through the weekend.
In the first-round matchup on Friday, No. 10 Auburn emerged victorious, defeating No. 4 Stanford 4-1. This victory marked a milestone for the Tigers, who advanced to the tournament's second round for the first time in program history.
The Tigers successfully battled in doubles, with standout efforts from freshmen Ava Esposito and Maria Garcia, who won 6-4, and Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat, who triumphantly executed a 7-6 tiebreaker. These double victories set the stage for the Tigers' singles run.
DJ Bennett showed off her skill on the No. 1 singles court, overpowering Stanford's Valerie Glozman in straight sets 7-5, 6-1. Soon after, Esposito secured a 6-3, 7-6 victory, while Okutoyi, the SEC Player of the Week, clinched the match with an ambitious 7-6 tiebreaker and 6-4 win.
With the hard work from the Tigers, Auburn advanced to the tournament's second round, meeting No. 1 Georgia on February 8th in the quarterfinals. Although the Tigers fought hard, they fell short, losing 4-1 to the Bulldogs. After losing the doubles point, Auburn was determined in singles play, with Okutoyi continuing her winning streak, defeating Mell Reasco 6-3, 7-5. However, Georgia's depth proved too much as they claimed the victory, with notable performances from the Bulldogs all having straight sets.
The Tigers bounced back on Sunday with an impressive 4-1 victory over No. 8 North Carolina in the consolation match. After dropping the doubles point, Auburn took control in singles, with Refaat and Okutoyi leading the team against the Tar Heels. Refaat dominated her match, defeating Carson Tanguilig 6-2, 6-4, while Okutoyi continued her flawless weekend with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Alanis Hamilton.
Esposito also had a career-defining moment, securing her first win over a top-31 opponent, Tatum Evans, 6-3, and crushing the tiebreaker in her next game 7-6. Battesti then clinched the victory for Auburn, winning 7-6, 6-4 against Claire Hill. With this victory, the Tigers concluded their time at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship with a 10-1 record.
February 11th, in the tournament's final match, the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs faced the No. 2 Texas A&M Aggies. Georgia ultimately took home the championship, defeating Texas A&M 4-1, marking a successful run for the Bulldogs in Evanston, Illinois.
