TEMPE, Ariz. – Texas A&M women's tennis achieved high marks in the final Oracle ITA Women's Rankings of the 2020-21 season, placing as the No. 15 team, landing All-American senior Tatiana Makarova in the No. 19 singles slot with the All-American doubles pair of Makarova and Jayci Goldsmith finishing ranked No. 15, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Wednesday.
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Following a season mired by a global pandemic and crippling winter weather, the Maroon & White overcame a variety of obstacles and ascended to the highest final team ranking of the Mark Weaver era. The Aggies finished with a 21-8 overall record and achieved multiple team accomplishments, highlighted by A&M's first-ever appearance in the SEC Championship Final match, as well as the seventh NCAA Sweet 16 berth in program history. Texas A&M reached the NCAA Tournament for the 21st consecutive time in 2021 and stood as the No. 10 overall seed in this year's tournament.Â
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In singles play, the Moscow, Russia, native, Makarova received the No. 19 spot in the final rankings of the season, warranting an automatic placement as an ITA All-American. The senior completed the season with a stunning 26-7 campaign including an 18-4 record in dual matches with an unprecedented 10-0 mark against Southeastern Conference opposition. Makarova paved the way for the Aggies at the No. 1 singles line, winning 15 of her matches in that position. Following her top-20 ranking, Makarova becomes A&M's tenth All-American in program history and stands as the highest ranked player in the final ITA Rankings since then-No. 9 Cristina Stancu in 2014. In addition, Makarova is only the second player in Texas A&M program history to be named an All-American in both singles and doubles since Rachel Pierson did so in 2017.Â
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The doubles poll saw Makarova and Goldsmith reach the No. 15 ranking in the final poll of the season following their stellar run through the NCAA Individual Championships Doubles competition. The duo reached the National Quarterfinals, earning an automatic bid as an ITA All-American Doubles team in the process. A&M's headline doubles tandem finished 20-12 in the 2020-21 season with a 13-11 finish in dual matches. Makarova and Goldsmith are the second Texas A&M doubles team to receive the ITA All-American designation since Pierson and Rutuja Bhosale earned that distinction in the 2017 season.
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Both Makarova and Goldsmith are set to return to Aggieland next season, joining four other members of this year's squad including Katya Townsend, Renee McBryde, Isa Di Laura and Elise Robbins. In addition to A&M's returners, the Aggies feature four freshman signees that were rated as the No. 3 overall signing class in 2021.Â
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FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN.
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Following a season mired by a global pandemic and crippling winter weather, the Maroon & White overcame a variety of obstacles and ascended to the highest final team ranking of the Mark Weaver era. The Aggies finished with a 21-8 overall record and achieved multiple team accomplishments, highlighted by A&M's first-ever appearance in the SEC Championship Final match, as well as the seventh NCAA Sweet 16 berth in program history. Texas A&M reached the NCAA Tournament for the 21st consecutive time in 2021 and stood as the No. 10 overall seed in this year's tournament.Â
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In singles play, the Moscow, Russia, native, Makarova received the No. 19 spot in the final rankings of the season, warranting an automatic placement as an ITA All-American. The senior completed the season with a stunning 26-7 campaign including an 18-4 record in dual matches with an unprecedented 10-0 mark against Southeastern Conference opposition. Makarova paved the way for the Aggies at the No. 1 singles line, winning 15 of her matches in that position. Following her top-20 ranking, Makarova becomes A&M's tenth All-American in program history and stands as the highest ranked player in the final ITA Rankings since then-No. 9 Cristina Stancu in 2014. In addition, Makarova is only the second player in Texas A&M program history to be named an All-American in both singles and doubles since Rachel Pierson did so in 2017.Â
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The doubles poll saw Makarova and Goldsmith reach the No. 15 ranking in the final poll of the season following their stellar run through the NCAA Individual Championships Doubles competition. The duo reached the National Quarterfinals, earning an automatic bid as an ITA All-American Doubles team in the process. A&M's headline doubles tandem finished 20-12 in the 2020-21 season with a 13-11 finish in dual matches. Makarova and Goldsmith are the second Texas A&M doubles team to receive the ITA All-American designation since Pierson and Rutuja Bhosale earned that distinction in the 2017 season.
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Both Makarova and Goldsmith are set to return to Aggieland next season, joining four other members of this year's squad including Katya Townsend, Renee McBryde, Isa Di Laura and Elise Robbins. In addition to A&M's returners, the Aggies feature four freshman signees that were rated as the No. 3 overall signing class in 2021.Â
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FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter by following @AggieWTEN.