Sooners Comeback Falls Short against No. 13 Auburn

Thursday, February 26

Norman, Okla.

11:30 AM

University of Oklahoma

Auburn

Sooners Comeback Falls Short against No. 13 Auburn

February 26, 2026 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: OU Athletics Communications

NORMAN – The 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.

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

When play was halted, OU's No. 1-ranked pairing of Roisin Gilheany and Gloriana Nahum 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.

On 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.

Laskevich 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 NCAA singles semifinalist. The victory marked the first ranked win of the season for the freshman from Minsk, Belarus.

At No. 2 singles, No. 18 Garcia Ruiz fell to Khairutdinova 6-4, 7-5. On court three, Mamedova was defeated by No. 95 Okutoyi 6-2, 6-3, while Chloé Noël suffered a 6-2, 6-2 loss to Merna Refaat on court four.

The 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.

FOLLOW THE OKLAHOMA SOONERS

For updates, follow @OU_Wtennis on Twitter and Instagram, or like Oklahoma Women's Tennis on Facebook.

RESULTS

#11 Oklahoma 2, #13 Auburn 4

Singles competition

1. Evialina Laskevich (OU) def. #37 DJ Bennett (AUB) 7-5 6-4
2. E. Khairutdinova (AUB) def. #18 Julia Garcia Ruiz (OU) 6-4 7-5
3. #95 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Edda Mamedova (OU) 6-2 6-3
4. Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Chloe Noel (OU) 6-2 6-2
5. Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) vs. #26 Ashton Bowers (AUB) match was unfinished 6-3 3-6 3-0
6. Gloriana Nahum (OU) def. Stefani Webb (AUB) 6-4 6-1

Doubles competition

1. #1 Roisin Gilheany and Gloriana Nahum (OU) vs. DJ Bennett and Ava Esposito (AUB) match was unfinished 6-5
2. #86 Angella Okutoyi and Merna Refaat (AUB) def. #44 Evialina Laskevich and Edda Mamedova (OU) 7-5
3. Ashton Bowers and E. Khairutdinova (AUB) def. Julia Garcia Ruiz and Salakthip Ounmuang (OU) 6-4

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2); Singles (4,3,6,1,2)