Razorbacks Start Strong, Lose to No. 8 Auburn, 4-1

FAYETEVILLE, Ark.  – The Arkansas women’s tennis team (4-14,1-10) fell to No. 8 Auburn (18-5,7-4), 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at Billingsley Tennis Center.

In doubles play, the Tigers took the early advantage with a win on court three, as Ava Esposito and Maria Garcia defeated Jimena Gomez and Katarina Pavlechova, 6-1. Auburn claimed the doubles point after another victory from Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat over Anet Koksel and Grace O’Donnell in the No. 2 position. Olga Bienzobas and Carolina Gomez’s match went unfinished with the visitors leading 5-2.

The Razorbacks bounced back by drawing level in the match with a ranked win from O’Donnell at the No. 4 position. She took down No. 36 Refaat in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The Tigers responded with a victory on court two, as No. 62 Okutoyi defeated Bienzobas, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Pavlechova dropped her match against Hrastar in three sets at the No. 3 position, while Esposito bested Koskel 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 on court five to clinch the match for Auburn.

Junior No. 74 C. Gomez was one point away from earning the first top 10 win of her career, when her match against No. 4 DJ Bennett went unfinished at 6-1, 4-6, 5-2.

Arkansas will head back on the road to Baton Rouge, La. on Friday, April 4 at 5 p.m. and Oxford, Miss. At 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 6.

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