URBANA, Ill. – The Illinois women's tennis team fell to No. 14 Auburn on Friday, 4-1. The Fighting Illini move to 1-4 on the season, while Auburn's record improves to 6-0.

"What an incredible effort from our team tonight," said head coach Evan Clark. "The 4-1 score line doesn't do the match justice. It was a match that could have gone either way. We were just not able to close out sets and credit to Auburn for being better than us on big points. There is a reason they are a top-15 team."

The first point went to Auburn, as the Tigers won at No. 1 and No. 2 doubles. The 25th-ranked duo of Allie Michaud and Taylor Russo defeated 32nd-ranked Louise Kwong and Ines Vias at the No. 1 spot, 6-2. Auburn closed out the doubles point at No. 2 doubles when Alannah Griffin and Andie Dikosavljevic earned the win over Madie Baillon and Jaclyn Switkes, 6-4. The No. 3 doubles match between Auburn's Reka Muller and Georgie Axon and Illinois' Alexis Casati and and Daniella Pedraza Novak remained unfinished with the Tigers leading 5-3.

Auburn won at No. 5 singles, earning the point with Axon's 6-2, 6-2 win over Pedraza Novak. The Illini got on the board with Baillon's win at the No. 4 spot, a 7-6(4), 6-1 victory over Roos van der Zwaan. At the No. 1 spot, 13th-ranked Michaud defeated Kwong, 7-5, 1-6, 6-1. Russo clinched the match for Auburn, winning at No. 3 singles over Switkes, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.

The No. 2 singles match between 101st-ranked Dikosavljevic and Casati remained unfished at 6-3, 5-7, 4-4, as well as the match between Jade Hilton and Carolina Turner at the No. 6 position, 6-2, 6-7(4), 2-1.

"I couldn't be more proud of our team's effort tonight," Clark said. "We will take a lot away from this match into next week and continue to improve. There is a long season ahead and good things are going to happen for this team very soon."

UP NEXT

The Illini remain at home for the next couple matches, and will host Middle Tennessee next Friday at 2 p.m. CT. Illinois has a home doubleheader scheduled for Sunday, with matches against Notre Dame at 11 a.m. and Eastern Illinois at 4 p.m. CT.

#14 Auburn 4, Illinois 1

Singles

1. #13 Alizee Michaud (AU) def. Louise Kwong (ILL) 7-5, 1-6, 6-1

2. Alexis Casati (ILL) vs. #101 Andie Dikosavljevic (AU) 3-6, 7-5, 4-4, unfinished

3. Taylor Russo (AU) def. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4

4. Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Roos van der Zwaan (AU) 7-6, 6-1

5. Georgie Axon (AU) def. Daniela Novak (ILL) 6-2, 6-2

6. Jade Hilton (ILL) vs. Caroline Turner (AU) 6-2, 6-7, 2-1, unfinished

Doubles

1. #25 Alizee Michaud/Taylor Russo (AU) def. #32 Louise Kwong/Ines Vias (ILL) 6-4

2. Alannah Griffin/Andie Dikosavljevic (AU) def. Madie Baillon/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-4

3. Alexis Casati/Daniela Novak (ILL) def. Reka Muller/Georgie Axon (AU) 5-3

Match Notes:

Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (5,4,1,3)