Alabama defeated Auburn 4-2, winning its second consecutive match to improve to 14-7 overall and 3-4 in the SEC.

“I’m really proud of our team,” coach Jenny Mainz said. “We have shown so much resiliency, mental toughness and tenacity recently, and we did it again tonight.”

In the previous match against Auburn in February, the doubles point proved to be the deciding factor as Auburn narrowly won 4-3. Alabama knew coming into the match that improvement was needed in doubles especially after having lost the past three doubles point in as many SEC matches.

After the No.2 pairing for Alabama fell 6-0, its work was cut out for it despite being up early on court No. 1 and No. 3 as Auburn broke serve late in the two remaining matches to put pressure on Alabama. But the Crimson Tide quickly subsided it as the doubles pairings of senior Andie Daniell and sophomore Moka Ito, along with junior Kimberly Gintrand and junior Ann Selim won their matches 6-4 and 6-3, respectively, to win the doubles point.

“We have worked on doubles a lot,” Mainz said. “We have made changes and I think they have been positive ones, which showed tonight.”

In singles play, Alabama used its momentum from doubles to win five of the six first sets. On courts No. 5 and No. 6, junior Luca Fabian and Selim swept their matches to give Alabama a 3-0 lead.

Auburn did not make it easy for Alabama as it won three second sets to push the matches to a third set. Even after two Auburn wins, junior Alba Cortina Pou did not waver. After losing the first set 6-4, she battled back to win the second set 6-3. But in the third set after trailing 2-1, she won five straight games to clinch the win.

“These are the moments we play for and practice for,” Pou said. “We came out to compete and we did it.”

Alabama will be back in action against No. 2 Georgia next Friday at the Alabama Tennis Stadium at 5 P.M.