TEMPE, Ariz. – Lucciana Perez, the reigning Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Player of the Year, headlined a group of six Aggies spangling the preseason 2026-27 ITA rankings, released Tuesday. The Texas A&M women’s squad had five players named in the ITA singles ranking, along with three doubles tandems and two newcomers.
Perez tops the singles rankings as the No. 1 player in the country, a position she held the last six weeks of the 2025-26 season. Returning junior Lexington Reed was slotted No. 60 while incoming transfers Kristina Paskauskas and Olivia Lancer landed at No. 49 and No. 72, respectively. Freshman Ruby Cooling garnered recognition at No. 122.
In doubles, Perez/Lincer were slotted No. 11, followed by Reed/Paskauskas at No. 34 and Cooling/Arina Bulatova at No. 72.
The ITA released a newcomer top 20 with Cooling (No. 17) and Bulatova (No. 20) claiming spots.
Last season Perez became the second Aggie to claim ITA National Player of the Year, following a standout junior campaign. Along the way she earned a bevy of awards, including the Honda Award, NCAA All-Tournament Team in singles and doubles, All-America singles distinction and SEC Player of the Year. She completed the Aggies’ first undefeated singles season at 28-0.
Reed finished her sophomore year with a 20-8 singles mark, all in dual action. She posted a 2-0 mark on court 2 and a 10-4 ledger on court 3. Reed was spectacular in SEC play, posting a 10-4 record. She also logged an 18-9 mark in doubles action, including 11-2 in SEC play.
Paskauskas arrived in Aggieland after competing at NC State and Alabama. During the 2026 season at Alabama, she posted a 16-10 singles record while competing at the No. 1 position in the Crimson Tide lineup. She finished No. 83 in the ITA singles ranking, climbing as high as No. 41. She also earned a No. 81 ranking in doubles play.
Lincer, the 2025 Big 12 Player of the Year at UCF, competed for Oklahoma State last season, climbing as high as No. 119 in singles. Last year she scored wins over No. 39 Margo Phanthala of Northwestern and No. 43 Gabriella Broadfoot of NC State en route to All-Big 12 Second Team honors.
Cooling arrives from Lincoln, England with a stellar junior career. She played grand slam juniors singles at Wimbledon and the US Open in 2025, reaching the round of 16 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. She also played junior doubles at two Wimbledons and advanced to the round of 16 at the US Open in 2025.
Bulatova was a late addition to the Aggies. The Samara, Russia, native has a rankings peak of No. 457 for WTA singles and No. 359 got WTA doubles. During her junior career, she climbed to No. 74.
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