TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 2 Texas A&M women’s tennis team opens a two-match road trip, taking on the No. 58 Crimson Tide, Friday, March 24 at the University of Alabama Tennis Stadium, with first serve set for 3 p.m.
The Aggies (17-1, 5-0 SEC) secured a top-15 ranked win over then-No. 13 Miami, 5-2, last time out. The Hurricanes were the aggressors in doubles as they claimed courts 1 and 5, winning the point. The momentum flipped in singles for the Maroon & White as the Aggie underclassmen put on an incredible display. Sophomore Jeanette Mireles quickly tied the teams with a win on court 6 over Maya Tahan (6-4, 6-3). The A&M freshmen then stepped up, as then-No. 106 Mia Kupres gave A&M the lead by besting Isabella Pfennig on court 3 (7-6(3), 6-4), while then-No. 80 Daria Smetannikov followed suit on court 5 outlasting Mia Mack on court 5 (7-5, 6-4). Clinching the match was sophomore then-No. 3 Mary Stoiana, following a three-set thriller on court 1 in which she secured another ranked win over then-No. 13 Alexa Noel (1-6, 6-4, 6-2). Then-No. 90 Jayci Goldsmith added a win of her own, as she battled Audrey Boch-Collins on court 4 (1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5).
“We’ve had some great practices here in Tuscaloosa,” head coach Mark Weaver said. “Our team is playing with a high level of confidence right now, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we perform tomorrow in another SEC battle”
The Aggies hold a winning record all-time over the Crimson Tide, 7-4. In the team’s last matchup, A&M secured a 6-1 win at the Mitchell Tennis Center, however the last match played in Tuscaloosa was won by Alabama (4-3).
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released a new set of team, singles and doubles rankings March 21, which featured seven team members. In singles, Stoiana remained the highest ranked Aggie, as she jumped another two spots from No. 5 to No. 3. Carson Branstine landed at the No. 54 spot, while Gianna Pielet currently holds the No. 90 ranking. Freshmen Kupres and Smetannikov followed one another at the No. 100 and No. 101 positions, respectively. Goldsmith rounded out the group of ranked Aggies at No. 120. A&M’s seven ranked singles players leads the Southeastern Conference. In doubles, the Maroon & White still boast three ranked pairs, with No. 3 Branstine/Stoiana leading the way. Goldsmith/Stoiana claim No. 42, while…
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