COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The No. 2 Texas A&M women’s tennis team returns home for the first time in over a month for a conference matchup with No. 65 Arkansas, Friday, March 10, at the Mitchell Tennis Center with first serve set for 5 p.m/
Last time out the Aggies (13-1, 2-0 SEC) opened conference play with a pair of road wins over then-No. 24 Florida (5-2) and then-No. 38 South Carolina (4-1). Opening with the Gators, the Aggies lost only their second doubles point of the year, but the team responded by winning five of the six singles courts to claim the match. The team ended its road trip in Columbia when the Aggies put on another dominant display against the Gamecocks, losing only one point due to medical retirement.
“Our group is very excited to be back home playing in front of the 12th Man for our first SEC home match,” said head coach Mark Weaver. “We are competing at a high level every match, and that will be needed once again against a solid Arkansas team.”
The Maroon & White have had the better of the Razorbacks (6-5, 0-2 SEC) in the team’s last five matches, most recently picking up a 6-1 victory in Fayetteville last season.
The Intercollegiate Tennis Association released a new set of team, singles and doubles rankings with seven Aggies making the list. Leading the way for A&M was Mary Stoiana as she jumped four spots to now stand as the No. 5 player in the country. Carson Branstine also ranks in the top-50 as she holds the No. 49 position. Daria Smetannikov and Gianna Pielet landed at No. 80 and No. 83, respectively. Jayci Goldsmith was right behind them as she comes in at No. 90, while Mia Kupres rounded out the singles rankings at No. 106. The Maroon & White also boast three ranked doubles pairs with Branstine/Stoiana at No. 4, Stoiana/Goldsmith locked in at the No. 42 spot and Salma Ewing/Goldsmith closing out this week’s rankings at No. 47.
Stoiana was awarded SEC Player of the Week, Wednesday, March 7, making her a back-to-back winner. This also marked the third time she has received the honor this season and the seventh weekly conference award of her young career.
TEAM NOTES
Freshman Mia Kupres leads the Aggies with nine dual match singles wins.
Pairing Mary Stoiana/Carson Branstine remain undefeated on the season with a 9-0 record.
The Aggies boast an .889 winning percentage versus ranked opponents this season.
A&M has only allowed nine points to its opposition all season when the Aggies win the match.
The Maroon & White have lost only one match on courts 3 and 5 this season.
In singles, court 3 holds the highest winning percentage at .909.
A&M has lost only two doubles points in its opening 14 dual matches.
The Aggies are currently on an 18-match unbeaten run in the SEC, following their undefeated conference schedule last season.
12TH MAN REWARDS
12th Man Rewards is the free program that appreciates fans for standing with the 12th Man and attending Texas A&M Athletics events in support of creating a homefield advantage for our student-athletes and coaches.
The more events you attend, your points will increase. Those points can be redeemed via the online Giveaway Store for a variety of items. Register today within the 12th Man Mobile app to earn 20 points at the match.
The No. 39 Texas A&M men’s tennis team fell to the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs (2-5), Thursday, at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex.
The Maroon & White (6-7, 1-2 SEC) began doubles play with a speedy ranked win on court 1. No. 78 Noah Schachter/Trey Hilderbrand defeated No. 11 Ethan Quinn/Trent Bryde (6-2), opening the door to the doubles point. Giulio Perego/Raphael Perot answered the call with a point-clinching win on court 3 versus Blake Croyder/Britton Johnston (7-5).
Momentum shifted in favor of the Bulldogs (9-5, 3-0 SEC) during singles play with early wins on courts 1, 2 and 6. Needing wins on the remaining courts to clinch the match, all three clashes advanced into the third set. With plenty of back-and-forth play, the Bulldogs claimed the match with a win on court 4. The coaches decided to play out the final matches, and No. 100 Pierce Rollins picked up another ranked win for the Aggies over No. 101 Teodor Giusca (6-4, 4-6, 6-4) on court 5.
COACHES QUOTES
Head coach Steve Denton on the today's match…
“I thought we started out well by playing very solid in the doubles. Georgia is a very good team, and we didn’t extend matches on a couple of courts. They played better on the big points today which was ultimately the difference in the match. We have another great opportunity on Saturday against Mississippi State, now it’s time to rest up and be ready to compete again.”
UP NEXT
The Aggies remain on the road and face No. 18 Mississippi State Saturday, March 11, at the A.J. Pitts Tennis Centre, with first serve set for 12 p.m.
TEAM NOTES
- Court 1 leads the Aggies in singles with a .727 winning percentage.
- Noah Schachter paces A&M with four ranked wins in dual matches this season.
- Every Aggie to take part in a dual match this season has secured a singles win (11 players).
- Schachter boasts two top-30 singles wins so far this season.
- Raphael Perot holds the most singles wins in dual matches on the team with seven.
- Noah Schachter/Trey Hilderbrand lead A&M with dual match eight doubles wins.
MATCH STATS
Singles Matches
No. 31 Schachter – No. 2 Quinn (4-6, 2-6)
No. 66 Perot – No. 15 Henning (1-6, 5-7)
Perego – Bryde (6-3, 6-7(2), 4-6)
Marson – No. 90 Croyder (4-6, 6-4, 4-6)
No. 100 Rollins Def. No. 101 Giusca (6-4, 4-6, 6-4)
Casper – Perez Pena (2-6, 4-6)
Doubles Matches
No. 78 Schachter/Hilderbrand Def. No. 11 Quinn/Bryde (6-2)
Taylor/Rollins – Henning/Giusca (5-6) unfinished
Perot/Perego Def. Croyder/Johnston (7-5)
