LOS ANGELES — In the second-ever meeting between USD women's tennis and No. 13 Auburn Friday at the ITA Kick-Off Weekend at Southern California, the Toreros had early opportunities in singles action but were unable to capitalize, losing 4-0 to the Tigers. 

After Auburn took the doubles point with easy wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, redshirt senior Kailey Evans, who is ranked No. 31 in the ITA women's singles rankings, and senior Claudia De Las Heras – playing the nation's No. 2 singles player – each jumped out to 3-1 leads in the opening set of their singles matches. In addition, freshman Hannah Read held a tight 4-3 lead in her opening set against Auburn's Alice Battesti. 

However, De las Heras and Read's respective matches each went to a 5-5 tie. They both lost their opening set, 7-6 (7-1) and 7-5, respectively. 

It was a different story for Evans, who secured a 6-4 opening set win over Auburn's Ava Hrastar, ranked No. 69. Evans also took a 4-1 second set lead before the match went unfinished.

The Toreros now move to 1-2 on the season, while No. 13 Auburn remains perfect at 6-0.

Up Next
The Toreros will take on Penn Saturday at 9 a.m. at USC to conclude the ITA Kick-Off Weekend. 
 
Results

No. 13 Auburn 4, San Diego 0

Doubles

1. #16 Ava Hrastar/DJ Bennett (AUB) vs. #38 Kailey Evans/Claudia De Las Heras (USD), 4-3 (unfinished)
2. #97 Merna Refaat /Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Hannah Read/Anni Pulls (USD) 6-0
3. Ava Esposito/Maria Garcia (AUB) def. Kristina Nordikyan/Gabby Gregg (USD), 6-3 

Singles

1. #2 DJ Bennett (AUB) vs. Claudia De Las Heras (USD) – 7-5, 4-2 (unfinished)
2.  #31 Kailey Evans (USD) vs. #69 Ava Hrastar (AUB) – 6-4, 4-1 (unfinished)
3. #110 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. Kristina Nordikyan (USD) – 6-2, 6-3
4. #22 Merna Refaat (AUB) def. Anni Puls (USD) – 6-1, 6-1
5. Ava Esposito (AUB) def. #105 Hannah Read (USD) – 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
6. Alice Battesti (AUB) vs. Gabby Gregg (USD) – 6-2, 4-5 (unfinished)

Order of finish: Doubles: 2,3; Singles; 4, 5, 3