Auburn University’s women’s tennis team, ranked No. 4 nationally, will host four matches this weekend at the Yarbrough Tennis Center. The Tigers are scheduled to play Western Carolina and UAB on Friday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Central Time, followed by matches against Liberty and Alabama A&M on Sunday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Head coach Jordan Szabo explained the team’s approach for the early season: “We want to test the girls physically and mentally early in the season, and we want to play as much as possible,” Szabo said. “When the whip starts cracking, we want to be match-tough and match-ready. We’ll have 10 girls to choose from on Friday and Sunday. Everybody is getting to play, but we’re not overworking the players. We have a plan in place so everyone gets the necessary matches.”
The Tigers began their dual match schedule for 2026 with two shutout wins over Bellarmine last Sunday. New team members Ashton Bowers, Eva Ionescu, and Ekaterina Khairutdinova each secured their first singles and doubles victories for Auburn during that doubleheader.
Senior Angella Okutoyi returns to competition after winning four International Tennis Federation titles earlier this month in Nairobi, Kenya.
For Western Carolina and UAB, Friday’s contests will be their first of the season; Liberty and Alabama A&M will also open their seasons on Sunday.
Admission to all matches is free. Fans attending Friday’s match against Western Carolina can participate in a “Courtside Chalk-Off” for a chance to win $150 in gift cards. On Sunday, attendees will receive complimentary flavored popcorn while supplies last.
Live video streams and scoring updates for each match will be available at AuburnTigers.com. Additional information for fans can be found at AuburnTigers.com/MatchDay.
Several Auburn players hold national rankings from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). In singles, Ashton Bowers is ranked No. 27, Ava Esposito No. 28, Alice Battesti No. 90, and Natalie Outcalt No. 119. In doubles competition, Ashton Bowers/DJ Bennett are ranked No. 55 while Ava Esposito/DJ Bennett are ranked No. 59.
