Sooners Knock Off No. 8 Auburn

Friday, March 28

Auburn, AL

11 AM

University of Oklahoma

Auburn

March 28, 2025 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: OU Athletics Communications

AUBURN, Ala. – The No. 10 Oklahoma women's tennis team secured its third top-10 win of the season Friday afternoon, knocking off No. 8 Auburn, 4-3, at the Yarbrough Tennis Center.

The win marked Oklahoma's first-ever against Auburn in their inaugural meeting as SEC opponents.

Oklahoma (13-5, 6-4 SEC) made a statement early against the SEC's leader in home wins, earning its 10th doubles point of the season to open the match. OU's consistent third doubles pairing struck first as Ava Catanzarite and Gloriana Nahum defeated AU's Ava Esposito and Maria Garcia, 6-2, on court three. The duo improved their season dual record to 5-1. Shifting momentum in the home team's favor, Auburn's Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat responded with a 6-3 win over Salakthip Ounmuang and Chloé Noël on court two. In a clutch performance at the top court, Alina Shcherbinina and Julia Garcia Ruiz clinched the doubles point with a 6-4 victory over No. 16 DJ Bennett and Ava Hrastar. It was the first win of the spring for OU's No. 1 doubles team.

Nahum sparked the Sooners' singles rally with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Alice Battesti, the reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, on court six.

On court two, No. 19 Garcia Ruiz earned the Sooners' third point with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over No. 62 Okutoyi. The win marked the 2024 national semifinalist's first singles victory since Feb. 7.

No. 70 Emma Staker, known for coming through in clutch moments, clinched the match for the Sooners with a 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-2 victory over No. 36 Refaat on court four.

On the remaining courts, No. 4 Bennett topped No. 26 Shcherbinina 7-5, 6-2 at the No. 1 spot, while Hrastar defeated No. 103 Ounmuang 7-5, 6-2 on court three. Esposito secured a 6-2, 7-6(0) win over Catanzarite at No. 5.

The Sooners return home Sunday to face No. 31 Florida at the Headington Family Tennis Center, with first serve set for 1 p.m. CT. The match will serve as Oklahoma's annual international match, featuring free international snacks for fans representing the Sooners' nine native countries.

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RESULTS

#10 Oklahoma 4, #8 Auburn 3

Singles competition

1. #4 DJ Bennett (AUB) def. #26 Alina Shcherbinina (OU) 7-5, 6-2
2. #19 Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) def. #62 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) 6-4, 6-4
3. Ava Hrastar (AUB) def. #103 Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) 7-5, 6-2
4. #70 Emma Staker (OU) def. #36 Merna Refaat (AUB) 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-2
5. Ava Esposito (AUB) def. Ava Catanzarite (OU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-0)
6. Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Alice Battesti (AUB) 6-2, 6-3

Doubles competition

1. Julia Garcia Ruiz/Alina Shcherbinina (OU) def. #16 DJ Bennett/Ava Hrastar (AUB) 6-4
2. Angella Okutoyi/Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Chloe Noel/Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) 6-3
3. Ava Catanzarite/Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Ava Esposito/Maria Garcia (AUB) 6-2

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,6,1,3,2,4)