Auburn Women’s Tennis Blanks Florida State, Punches Ticket to ITA National Indoors for Fifth Straight Season
AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn women’s tennis team continues to flex its muscle early in the 2026 season, and Sunday’s performance was proof that this group is playing with both confidence and cohesion. The No. 4 Tigers shut out Florida State 4-0 at the Yarbrough Tennis Center, clinching their spot in the ITA National Team Indoor Championship for the fifth consecutive year.
This wasn’t just another win. Head coach Jordan Szabo called it their “best match of the year,” and it’s easy to see why. The Tigers showed poise under pressure, depth across the lineup, and a level of execution that suggests they’re not just aiming to compete at Indoors - they’re aiming to win it.
Doubles Drama, Auburn Delivers
The doubles point is often the tone-setter in college tennis, and Sunday’s battle was no exception. Florida State came out swinging, pushing Auburn to the edge in a tightly contested opening round. But the Tigers didn’t flinch.
On court two, Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat found themselves trailing early but responded with grit, winning the final three games to take the match 6-4. Meanwhile, the duo of Ekaterina Khairutdinova and Ashton Bowers wasted no time on court three. They built a 5-2 cushion and held off a late push to seal another 6-4 win - and with it, the all-important doubles point.
Szabo noted that while some of the younger players showed a bit of inexperience in closing out early leads, the team’s ability to recover and finish strong was a sign of maturity. “You have to keep your foot on the gas,” he said, “and some of the courts didn’t do that. But we found ways to win some sets that we started slow.”
Singles Sweep Secures the Shutout
With the doubles point in hand, Auburn carried the momentum into singles - and the Tigers didn’t let up.
Ashton Bowers was the first to put a singles point on the board, dominating from start to finish at the No. 5 spot. Her 6-1, 6-1 win over Kristyna Lavickova gave Auburn a 2-0 lead and set the tone for the rest of the lineup.
Next up was Merna Refaat, who continued her strong weekend with a clinical performance at No. 3. After a steady 6-2 first set that featured a pair of late breaks, she blanked her opponent in the second to push the Tigers to the brink of victory.
And fittingly, it was senior Angella Okutoyi who delivered the knockout blow. Playing at No. 2 singles, Okutoyi was locked in from the first serve, cruising to a 6-1, 6-1 win that sealed the team victory and capped off a dominant afternoon for the Tigers. The win marked just the third time in program history that Auburn has beaten Florida State - and they did it in emphatic fashion.
Eyes on the Road, and Indoors
With the win, Auburn moves to 9-0 on the season - all victories coming at home. That unbeaten record will be put to the test soon, as the Tigers hit the road for the first time this year.
They’ll face a pair of top-10 opponents in No. 10 Oklahoma State on Friday and No.
7 Michigan on Monday. Those matchups will serve as a strong litmus test ahead of the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, set for Feb. 6-10 in Evanston and Champaign, Illinois.
Szabo reminded his team to enjoy the moment, even with the high expectations that come with a top-five ranking. “We’re very excited to make Indoors and for the great opportunities up there,” he said. “It’s one step closer to reaching our goal of trying to win ITA National Indoors.”
And if Sunday’s performance is any indication, the Tigers are more than ready to take that next step.
Match Summary: Auburn 4, Florida State 0
Singles Results:
- *No.
1:* E. Khairutdinova (AUB) vs.
Eva Shaw (FSU) 7-5, 2-1, unfinished
- *No.
2:* Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Millie Bissett (FSU) 6-1, 6-1
- No. 3: Merna Refaat (AUB) def.
Laura Putz (FSU) 6-2, 6-0
- *No.
4:* Stefani Webb (AUB) vs. M.B.
Deatherage (FSU) 4-6, 2-2, unfinished
- *No.
5:* Ashton Bowers (AUB) def. Kristyna Lavickova (FSU) 6-1, 6-1
- No. 6: Eva Ionescu (AUB) vs.
Tina Li (FSU) 7-5, 1-0, unfinished
Doubles Results:
- Court 1: Unfinished
- Court 2: Okutoyi/Refaat (AUB) def. Opponent (FSU) 6-4
- Court 3: Khairutdinova/Bowers (AUB) def. Deatherage/Cricchio (FSU) 6-4
Next stop: the road. But make no mistake - this Auburn team is built for the big stage.