No. 24 Gamecocks Fall to No. 4 Tigers

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The No. 24 South Carolina women’s tennis team fell to No. 4 Auburn, 4-1, on Thursday evening at the Carolina Tennis Center. 

The Gamecocks struggled to find momentum in doubles play, as Auburn claimed wins on courts two and three to secure the early 1-0 lead. Despite a top-10 matchup at the No. 1 position featuring Lauren Friedman and Helena Buchwald, the pair trailed when play was halted. 

In singles, the Gamecocks found their lone point behind a strong performance from Helena Buchwald, who earned a straight-set win over a ranked opponent at the No. 2 spot. Auburn, however, controlled the rest of the lineup, picking up wins on courts three, four, and five to clinch the match. Kaitlyn Carnicella and Lauren Friedman were both in the middle of competitive matches that went unfinished.

South Carolina is back in action, at home, on Saturday vs. No. 17 Florida. First serve is set for 1 p.m.

No. 24 South Carolina 1, No. 4 Auburn 4

Doubles (order of finish: 3, 2)

1. No. 9 Helena Buchwald & Lauren Friedman (SC) vs. No. 16 DJ Bennett & Ava Esposito Cogan (AU)  2-4 unf. 
2. No. 20 Angella Okutoyi & Merna Refaat (AU) def. Jane Dunyon & Sara Borkop (SC) 6-2
3. Ekaterina Khairutdinova & Ashton Bowers (AU) def. Kaitlyn Carnicella & Jana Stojanova (SC) 6-1

Singles (order of finish: 4,2, 3, 5)

1. No. 56 Kaitlyn Carnicella (SC) vs. No. 43 DJ Bennett (AUB) 4-6, 2-4, unf.
2.  No. 52 Helena Buchwald (SC) def. No. 55 E. Khairutdinova (AUB) 6-1, 7-5
3.  No. 94 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Sara Borkop (SC) 6-2, 6-1
4.  No. 38 Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Taylor Goetz (SC) 6-1, 6-2
5.  No. 122 Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Jana Stojanova (SC) 6-3, 6-3
6. Lauren Friedman (SC) vs. Stefani Webb (AUB) 7-6 (7-5), 1-3, unf.