No. 18 Hogs Get Big Road Win At No. 11 Auburn

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AUBURN, Ala. – Ana Oparenovic came through in three sets at the second singles spot to lift No. 18 Arkansas to a 4-2 win at No. 11 Auburn on Sunday at Yarbrough Tennis Center.

Oparenovic, the nation’s No. 92 ranked singles player, fought off Auburn’s No. 26 ranked Alizee Michaud 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 to help the Razorbacks close out the regular season with a 17-8 overall record, including a 7-6 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The win was the Razorbacks’ third straight over Auburn (21-9, 5-8 SEC), including their second consecutive road victory against the Tigers. It also marked Arkansas’ eighth win against a nationally ranked opponent this season and its highest ranked win since beating No. 5 California in 2011 at the ITA National Indoor Championships.

“This was a massive clincher for Ana, who played her best match of the season today in the biggest moment,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “But the day belongs to the entire team who competed all weekend with the best Razorback hearts a coach could ask for. Hats off to Auburn who helped us grow a great amount today.”

Arkansas started strong, rolling through doubles play with consecutive wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Freshman Giulia Pairone and junior Léolia Jeanjean cruised past Auburn’s No. 16 ranked duo of Michaud and Taylor Russo 6-1 at the top spot, while Oparenovic and junior Mia Jurasic topped Tigers Alannah Griffin and Andie Dikosavljevic 6-2 at No. 2.

Jurasic was first off the court in singles, making quick work of Auburn’s Roos van der Zwaan 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 5 slot and giving Arkansas a 2-0 lead. Auburn then leveled the match with back-to-back wins at No. 6 and No. 1. Pairone quickly reclaimed a 3-2 lead for the Razorbacks, winning 6-4, 6-2 at No. 4, before Oparenovic delivered the clinching victory minutes later.

Up Next
Arkansas and Auburn will square off again in the second round of the SEC Tournament as the No. 7 and 10 seeds, respectively, at approximately noon CT Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee.

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