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

FAYETTEVILLE, 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 at the No. 2 position. Olga Bienzobas and Carolina Gomez’s match went unfinished with the Tigers 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, taking down No. 36 Refaat in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4. Auburn 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 the Tigers.

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

Arkansas heads back on the road to face No. 6 LSU in Baton Rouge, La. on Friday, April 4 at 5 p.m. and No. 34 Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. on Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m.

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