After a 6-1 victory against the Bulldogs, the No. 52 Auburn Women's Tennis team (9-10) looked to close out the season in style, but came up short against No. 73 Alabama (10-11), 4-3, last Saturday at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.
"First off, hats off to Alabama," said coach Tim Gray. "We've looked forward to this match all year, and we knew it was going to be a tight match."
Seniors Fani Chifchieva and Jil Hastenrath jump-started Auburn in doubles play and defeated Alabama senior Alice Tunaru and freshman Antonia Foeshe, 8-1.
The tide turned when Alabama senior Paulina Bigos and junior Meritt Emery defeated Auburn freshmen Plamena Kurteva and Caroline Thornton, 8-1.
Auburn freshman Paulina Shippers and senior Myrthe Molenveld gave up the doubles point to Alabama freshman Alexa Guarachi and sophomore Courtney McLane, along with a two-match win.
"Paulina and I had chances," Molenveld said "I was nervous because I wanted to win so much because I knew it was my last doubles at Auburn."
Alabama gained a 2-0 lead after winning No. 2 singles, as No. 60 Guarachi defeated Auburn sophomore Daniela Vukadinovic, 6-2, 6-3.
It did not take Auburn long to rally for the lead.
Hastenrath defeated Bigos, 7-5, 6-1, while Moleveld defeated Emery, 6-4, 6-2, to even the match at 2-2. The stage was set for No. 47 Chifchieva to give Auburn a 3-2 as she defeated Mclane, 6-2, 6-4.
"We can usually count on Fani to get her point," Gray said, "just like she proved again tonight, and she will be missed just like the rest of the seniors."
Alabama's Tunaru defeated Shippers, 6-2, 6-4, evening the match, 3-3, with Foeshe and Thornton deciding the final match outcome.
Foeshe built up a 5-3 lead before taking the eventual set and match, 6-4, 6-3.
"I'm very proud of the great effort," Gray said. "We didn't stop fighting, and that's all I ask of them."
The Tigers are the No. 10 seed in today's SEC Tournament and face the No. 7 Arkansas Razorbacks in Athens, Ga.
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