The No. 2 Texas A&M women's tennis team is off to a record setting start in 2023, and show no signs of slowing down.
The No. 2 Texas A&M women’s tennis team is off to a record setting start in 2023 and show no signs of slowing down.
Following a six-match unbeaten streak to open the spring, the Aggies headed to Seattle, Washington for the ITA National Team Indoor Championships. As the then-No. 3 Aggies opened their championship campaign versus then-No. 17 San Diego, A&M hit the ground running as it secured its sixth sweep of the season (4-0).
After making quick work of the Toreros, the Maroon & White advanced to the quarterfinals where they faced then-No. 11 Ohio State. In similar fashion to the opening round, A&M claimed its seventh sweep of the year against the Buckeyes (4-0) and picked up a trio of ranked wins in the process. First in the doubles, Mary Stoiana/Carson Branstine defeated No. 37 Sydni Ratliff/Irina Cantos Siemers (6-4). Moving to singles Branstine bested No. 17 Ratliff (6-2, 6-4) and Stoiana defeated No. 23 Cantos Siemers (6-1, 6-0).
The semifinal was a top-three matchup with then-No. 2 North Carolina, and the Aggies battled as they earned the doubles point with two ranked wins. Branstine/Stoiana defeated No. 32 Reese Brantmeier/Elizabeth Scotty (6-1), and this was followed by Jayci Goldsmith/Salma Ewing topping No. 1 Fiona Crawley/Carson Tanguilig (6-3). The Aggies’ freshmen put on a good display with Daria Smetannikov defeating No. 18 Anika Yarlagadda (6-1, 2-6, 6-0), and Mia Kupres leading No. 12 Abbey Forbes (6-1, 6-7(3), 5-4) before the match was abandoned. The Tar Heels found their stride claiming four of the six singles points, ultimately beating the Aggies to end their tournament run (4-2).
The semifinal run from the Maroon & White was the furthest they have advanced in this tournament in program history, and they were bested by North Carolina who went on to win the championship.
“We had a great run in the ITA National Championships,” head coach Mark Weaver said. “We came away with some very good wins and came very close to bringing back a national championship.”
The Aggies’ performances did not go unnoticed as pairings Branstine/Stoiana, Ewing/Goldsmith and Smetannikov in singles were awarded All-Tournament Team honors.
Following their run of success, the Maroon & White climbed to the No. 2 spot in the Intercollegiate Tennis Associations rankings, which is the highest ranking in program history.
“Off the back of our performance at the National Team Indoors, we have climbed to the No. 2 spot in the country which doesn’t come easily,” said Weaver. “We are looking to find ways of improving every day so that we can reach our goals this year in bringing home SEC titles and most importantly, the national title.”
The Aggies return to the road travelling to Orlando, Florida, Feb. 24-27. The Maroon & White will play a trio of matches versus FIU, No. 6 Ohio State and Northwestern at the USTA National Campus.
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