Ole Miss wins tightly contested match over Auburn

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Ole Miss women’s tennis found a way to win a tight, 4-3, match against No. 16 Auburn in the second round of the SEC Championships on Thursday. The Rebels got back at the Tigers after losing to them 4-3 earlier in the year.

Ole Miss (11-12, 3-10 SEC) changed its fortunes this time due in the large part to earning the doubles point. Auburn (18-8, 8-5 SEC) punched first with a win at No. 3 doubles. However, the Rebels fought back, taking courts one and two.

Anaelle Leclercq-Ficher and Rachel Krzyzak finished second in doubles, notching a 6-3 victory at No. 2 singles. The win left Ole Miss’ chance at the lead to Lillian Gabrielsen and Kelsey Mize at No. 1 doubles. The senior duo earned their second ranked doubles win in two days, defeating No. 30 Ariana Arsenault and Carolyn Ansari, 6-4. Mize also earned her 40th career doubles win.

The Rebels brought the momentum into singles, seizing two straight matches at the bottom of the lineup. Reka Zadori came out firing as the only Rebel to win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3 at No. 6 singles. Krzyzak was next with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles.

The Tigers did not back down despite trailing 3-0. Auburn won the next three singles matches at the top three positions, tying the overall match at three apiece. The deciding match landed on Court Four and Emma Kette. The freshman, dropping her first set, handled the pressure. Kette secured the second and third sets by a scores of 7-5.

Ole Miss move ahead to the SEC Quarterfinals for the first time since the its 2017-18 campaign. The Rebels will face off against fourth seeded Florida on Friday, April 21, at 9 a.m. CT.

Ole Miss 4, Auburn 3

Doubles
1. Kelsey Mize/Lillian Gabrielsen (OM) def. #30 Ariana Arsenault/Carolyn Ansari (AU) 6-4
2. Anaelle Leclercq/Rachel Krzyzak (OM) def. Adeline Flach/Angella Okutoyi (AU) 6-3
3. DJ Bennett/Kaitlyn Carnicella (AU) def. Ludmila Kareisova/Emma Kette (OM) 6-0

Order of finish: 3, 2, 1

Singles
1. #35 Ariana Arsenault (AU) def. Ludmila Kareisova (OM) 6-1, 4-6, 6-3
2. #19 Carolyn Ansari (AU) def. Lillian Gabrielsen (OM) 7-6 (7-5), 6-4
3. DJ Bennett (AU) def. Anaelle Leclercq (OM) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
4. Emma Kette (OM) def. Angella Okutoyi (AU) 2-6, 7-5, 7-5
5. Rachel Krzyzak (OM) def. Kaitlyn Carnicella (AU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
6. Reka Zadori (OM) def. Adeline Flach (AU) 6-4, 6-3

Order of finish: 6, 5, 3, 1, 2, 4