{"id":506412,"date":"2026-02-27T00:18:17","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/506412\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T00:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T00:18:17","slug":"sooners-comeback-falls-short-against-no-13-auburn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/506412\/","title":{"rendered":"Sooners Comeback Falls Short against No. 13 Auburn"},"content":{"rendered":"

NORMAN\u00a0\u2013\u00a0The 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.

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\nCompeting on the outdoor courts\u00a0and 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<\/a> and Salakthip Ounmuang<\/a>, 6-4, on court three. Shortly after, No. 44 Eviana Laskevich and Edda Mamedova<\/a> fell, 7-5, to No. 86 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat on court two, securing the opening point for the Tigers.

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\nWhen play was halted, OU’s No. 1-ranked pairing of Roisin Gilheany<\/a> and Gloriana Nahum<\/a> 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.

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\nOn 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.

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\nLaskevich 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\u00a0NCAA singles semifinalist. The victory marked the first ranked win of the season for the freshman from Minsk, Belarus.

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\nAt No. 2 singles, No. 18\u00a0Garcia Ruiz fell to\u00a0Khairutdinova\u00a06-4,\u00a07-5. On court three,\u00a0Mamedova\u00a0was defeated by No.\u00a095\u00a0Okutoyi\u00a06-2,\u00a06-3, while\u00a0Chlo\u00e9 No\u00ebl\u00a0suffered a 6-2,\u00a06-2\u00a0loss to\u00a0Merna Refaat\u00a0on court four.\u00a0

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\nThe 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

FOLLOW THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For updates, follow @OU_Wtennis on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>, or like\u00a0Oklahoma Women’s Tennis<\/a>\u00a0on Facebook.\u00a0<\/p>\n

RESULTS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

#11\u00a0Oklahoma\u00a02, #13\u00a0Auburn\u00a04\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Singles competition\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0Evialina Laskevich<\/a> (OU) def. #37 DJ Bennett (AUB) 7-5 6-4

\n2. E. Khairutdinova (AUB) def. #18 Julia Garcia Ruiz<\/a> (OU) 6-4 7-5

\n3. #95 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Edda Mamedova<\/a> (OU) 6-2 6-3

\n4. Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Chloe Noel (OU) 6-2 6-2

\n5. Salakthip Ounmuang<\/a> (OU) vs. #26 Ashton Bowers (AUB) match was unfinished 6-3 3-6 3-0

\n6. Gloriana Nahum<\/a> (OU) def. Stefani Webb (AUB) 6-4 6-1<\/p>\n

Doubles competition\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. #1 Roisin Gilheany<\/a> and Gloriana Nahum<\/a> (OU) vs. DJ Bennett and Ava Esposito (AUB) match was unfinished 6-5

\n2. #86 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat (AUB) def. #44 Evialina Laskevich<\/a> and Edda Mamedova<\/a> (OU) 7-5

\n3. Ashton Bowers and E. Khairutdinova (AUB) def. Julia Garcia Ruiz<\/a> and Salakthip Ounmuang<\/a> (OU) 6-4<\/p>\n

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,3,6,1,2)\u00a0<\/p>\n