Melissa Koning: of Mount Eliza, Austraila, teamed up with Alex Haney for their fourth doubles win. JD Schein / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Auburn University’s women’s tennis team added two more SEC wins last weekend at the Yarborough Tennis Facility in Auburn. The Tigers faced Ole Miss and Mississippi State to move their record in the SEC to 3-1 this season.
Auburn was in full swing on Friday when they beat Ole Miss 6-1 and didn’t lighten up on Sunday, when they defeated Mississippi State 5-2.
Auburn’s Alex Haney and Melissa Koning added their fourth SEC doubles win on Sunday after an unreturned volley led to the defeat over Mississippi State’s No. 45th-ranked doubles team in the nation.
“We’ve actually have had three ranked wins in a row,” said Alex Haney, a junior from Georgia.
The duo said they were pleased with their performance on the court and feel like they have recovered from the fall season.
“We had a blimp in the fall, and I am glad that we got back on track,” Haney said.
The No. 47th-ranked doubles team from Auburn said they believe their communication on the court has helped their play this season.
“We are playing really, really good doubles,” said Melissa Koning, a sophomore from Australia.
The women’s tennis team claimed two of the three doubles matches Sunday against Mississippi State and all three doubles matches on Friday against Ole Miss.
Both Mississippi teams were met with a challenge by Auburn in singles, too.
Auburn won five of six singles matches against Ole Miss and four of six singles matches against Mississippi State.
Auburn’s No. 1 women’s player, Fani Chifchieva, didn’t let up last weekend. After her singles match Sunday, she increased her win streak in singles to 12.
Haney, who plays No. 2 singles for Auburn, also had a good day Sunday. She only dropped one game during her singles match against Mississippi State.
Auburn women’s tennis coach Tim Gray said he was happy with the way his team performed over the weekend.
“Anytime you can pick up wins in the SEC it’s good,” Gray said.
Even though Auburn has had a great season opening, with an 11-3 overall record, Gray said they still have areas to improve in.
“There are things we have to work on, but we are getting better collectively every match,” Gray said.
40th last weekend, but that ranking will more than likely improve after clinching the two wins over Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
