No. 9 Aggies Fall in Opening Round of ITA National Indoor Championships

Friday, February 9

Seattle, Wash.

8:30 PM

Texas A&M

Texas

Photo by: ITA Tennis

Feb 09, 2024 | Women's Tennis

Box Score

By: Mallory Maxwell, Athletics Communications

SEATTLE – The No. 9 Texas A&M women's tennis team's comeback effort came up short as it fell to No. 10 Texas, 4-2, at the ITA National Indoor Championship, Friday evening at the Seattle Tennis Club.

The Longhorns started the match as the aggressors, stealing courts 1 and 3 to claim the advantage heading into singles play. On court 2, Nicole Khirin/Lucciana Perez were on a comeback stride against Tanya Sasnouskaya/Malaika Rapolu (4-3) before the point was secured.

Texas carried the momentum into singles play, taking courts 3 and 5 to increase their lead to 3. The Maroon & White mounted their comeback on court 2, as No. 32 Nicole Khirin downed Texas' top ranked player No. 29 Sasnouskaya (4-6, 6-2, 6-2) to add a point for the Aggies (3-1). Beside her, No. 1 Mary Stoiana defeated Sabina Zeynalova (6-4, 7-5) on court 1 to bring the Aggies within one point, 3-2. With two courts remaining, the Longhorns ultimately secured the match (4-2) on court 4 despite A&M's best efforts.

COACH'S QUOTES
Head coach Mark Weaver on today's match …
"It was a battle out there tonight and we fought very hard to the bitter end. We are so close and right there in all these matches. I have full confidence that we will use this adversity to get the results that we want and we deserve."

Up Next
The Aggies will face the Auburn Tigers Saturday, Feb. 10 with first serve set for 5:30 p.m. at the Seattle Tennis Center in the consolation bracket.

Match Results
Singles Results
(TAMU) No. 1 Mary Stoiana Def. (UT) Sabina Zeynalova (6-4, 7-5)
(TAMU) No. 32 Nicole Khirin Def. (UT) No. 29 Tanya Sasnouskaya (4-6, 6-2, 6-2)
(UT) No. 36 Malaika Rapolu Def. (TAMU) No. 24 Mia Kupres (6-2, 6-2)
(UT) No. 120 Charlotte Chavatipon Def. (TAMU) Lucciana Perez Def. (6-3, 3-6, 6-4)
(UT) Taisiya Pachkaleva Def. (TAMU) Daria Smetannikov (6-2, 6-3)
(TAMU) Jeanette Mireles vs. (UT) Vivian Ovrootsky (6-3, 6(4)-7, 1-2) UNF

Doubles Results
(UT) No. 37 Taisiya Pachkaleva/Sabina Zeynalova Def. (TAMU) No. 3 Mia Kupres/Mary Stoiana (6-1)
(TAMU) Lucciana Perez/Nicole Khirin vs. (UT) Tanya Sasnouskaya/Malaika Rapolu (4-3) UNF
(UT) Charlotte Chavatipon/Vivian Ovrootsky Def. (TAMU) Sydney Fitch/Gianna Pielet (6-2)

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 X by following @AggieWTEN.