Sooners Comeback Falls Short against No. 13 Auburn

Thursday, February 26

Norman, Okla.

11:30 AM

University of Oklahoma

Auburn

Sooners Comeback Falls Short against No. 13 Auburn

February 26, 2026 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: OU Athletics Communications

NORMAN – The 11th-ranked Oklahoma women's tennis team surged late against No. 13 Auburn on Thursday afternoon but fell, 4-2, at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

Competing on the outdoor courts and lasting nearly a full hour, Oklahoma (10-3, 1-1 SEC) dropped the doubles point for the first time this season to open the match. Finishing first, Auburn's Ashton Bowers and Ekaterina Khairutdinova defeated Julia Garcia Ruiz and Salakthip Ounmuang, 6-4, on court three. Shortly after, No. 44 Eviana Laskevich and Edda Mamedova fell, 7-5, to No. 86 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat on court two, securing the opening point for the Tigers.

When play was halted, OU's No. 1-ranked pairing of Roisin Gilheany and Gloriana Nahum held a 6-5 advantage over DJ Bennett and Ava Esposito on court one. Despite the unfinished result, the nation's top-ranked duo remains undefeated at 2-0 in dual play.

On court six, Nahum extended her spring record to a perfect 7-0 with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Stefani Webb to put the Sooners on the board.

Laskevich kept the match alive with an impressive straight-set, 7-5, 6-4 win on court one over No. 37 DJ Bennett, the reigning SEC Player of the Week and a 2024 NCAA singles semifinalist. The victory marked the first ranked win of the season for the freshman from Minsk, Belarus.

At No. 2 singles, No. 18 Garcia Ruiz fell to Khairutdinova 6-4, 7-5. On court three, Mamedova was defeated by No. 95 Okutoyi 6-2, 6-3, while Chloé Noël suffered a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Merna Refaat on court four.

The Sooners return to the court Saturday to complete a split week against No. 46 Florida. First serve from the Alfred A. Ring Tennis Complex in Gainesville, Fla., is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT.

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RESULTS

#11 Oklahoma 2, #13 Auburn 4

Singles competition

1. Evialina Laskevich (OU) def. #37 DJ Bennett (AUB) 7-5 6-4
2. E. Khairutdinova (AUB) def. #18 Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) 6-4 7-5
3. #95 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Edda Mamedova (OU) 6-2 6-3
4. Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Chloe Noel (OU) 6-2 6-2
5. Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) vs. #26 Ashton Bowers (AUB) match was unfinished 6-3 3-6 3-0
6. Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Stefani Webb (AUB) 6-4 6-1

Doubles competition

1. #1 Roisin Gilheany and Gloriana Nahum (OU) vs. DJ Bennett and Ava Esposito (AUB) match was unfinished 6-5
2. #86 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat (AUB) def. #44 Evialina Laskevich and Edda Mamedova (OU) 7-5
3. Ashton Bowers and E. Khairutdinova (AUB) def. Julia Garcia Ruiz and Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) 6-4

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