No. 4 Auburn Set to Host ITA Kickoff Weekend with Eyes on National Indoors
AUBURN, Ala. - The road to the ITA National Team Indoor Championship runs through Auburn this weekend, and the No. 4-ranked Tigers are ready to defend their home court. With a perfect 7-0 start to the season and momentum on their side, Auburn will host ITA Kickoff Weekend at the Yarbrough Tennis Center, welcoming Tulane, Nevada, and Florida State to town.
The Tigers open play Saturday at noon CT against Tulane, while Nevada and Florida State square off later that afternoon at 3 p.m. CT.
Winners from Saturday will meet Sunday at 1 p.m. CT with a ticket to the National Indoors on the line.
The consolation match is scheduled for 10 a.m. CT Sunday.
For Auburn, the stakes are crystal clear.
“One of our goals is to win the National Team Indoor Championship, and if we don’t take care of Tulane, we’re not going to have the opportunity to do that,” said head coach Jordan Szabo. “We’ve tried to play a lot of matches to best prepare ourselves.”
That preparation has paid off early. Auburn is coming off a midweek win over Georgia Tech, and the team has looked sharp across the board.
The Tigers aren’t just winning-they’re dominating. Senior Ekaterina Khairutdinova has been a standout, earning the SEC’s first Player of the Week honor this season after going 5-0 in both singles and doubles to start her Auburn career.
She’s been a force at the top of the lineup and a tone-setter for a squad with serious postseason aspirations.
Szabo knows how critical this weekend is-not just for the opportunity to compete for a national title, but for what it means in the rankings.
“Making the indoors is a big deal from a rankings standpoint because you basically get three shots at top-10 teams once you get there,” Szabo explained. “The path to get there is much better at home. Playing at home is an advantage because we’re used to our conditions and can sleep in our own beds.”
And that home-court edge could be the difference. Auburn has qualified for the National Indoors in each of the past four seasons, and a win this weekend would make it five straight. The Tigers are deep, experienced, and playing with confidence.
Tulane, meanwhile, enters the matchup looking to bounce back after an 0-2 start, with losses to No. 2 Texas A&M and No.
25 Baylor. Nevada comes in at 1-1, while Florida State is 1-0 heading into the weekend.
Fans attending Auburn’s matches will be treated to more than just high-level tennis-Auburn women’s tennis trading cards will be available while supplies last. For those following from home, live video and scoring will be available at AuburnTigers.com.
Auburn’s singles lineup is stacked with talent and national recognition:
- Ashton Bowers (No.
- Ava Esposito (No.
- Alice Battesti (No.
- Natalie Outcalt (No.
In doubles, the Tigers have shown strong chemistry and consistency, helping fuel their unbeaten start. With a blend of veteran leadership and rising stars, Auburn has positioned itself as a legitimate contender-not just this weekend, but on the national stage.
The mission is simple: win two matches, punch a ticket to Chicago, and keep the perfect season alive. For a team with big goals, the journey continues this weekend on their home court.