STILLWATER, Okla. — Texas A&M women's tennis has been knocking on the door over the last few seasons. On Sunday, the Aggies' call was finally answered.
After falling to Georgia three times earlier in the season, the Aggies defeated the Bulldogs, 4-1, in the National Championship match to win its first title in program history.
It is the first Texas A&M championship for any NCAA-sanctioned sport since 2017 and the Aggies' 18th national title which fits that criteria. (NOTE: The Texas A&M equestrian team, which is sponsored by the athletic department but is not recognized as an NCAA competition, has won 12 national titles.)
Both teams had plenty of time to soak in anticipation of playing for a national championship. The match was first delayed due to the men's final running longer than expected (which ended with an epic 4-3 win for TCU over Texas).
The doubles point began around 7:50 p.m. (nearly 80 minutes after the scheduled start time) - but that was only the first delay. Midway through that portion of the match, play was suspended due to rain and eventually moved indoors.
At that point, the Aggies caught fire. Despite falling behind early, the duos of Nicole Khirin/Jeanette Mireles and Carson Branstine/Lucciana Perez rallied back to win their respective matchups, putting A&M on the board first.
When singles play began, the Aggie assault continued. Needing to win just three of the six singles matches, Texas A&M took four of the opening sets. Stoiana (6-1), Branstine (6-2), and Perez (6-2) each took care of theirs in dominating fashion, while Khirin overcame an early deficit to win hers, 6-4.
The Dawgs barked back on Court 4, where Anastasiia Lopata picked up a straight-set win (6-4, 6-1) over A&M sophomore Mia Kupres to even the score at 1-1.
After a surge from UGA, Perez and Stoiana settled the water by each winning a second-set tiebreaker. Stoiana's victory put the Aggies one point away from glory.
Georgia made it interesting after snagging three second sets, but Branstine and Khirin reasserted themselves in the decisive frame. Finally, it was Khirin who finished it off, defeating Mell Reasco 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.
The Aggies' week continues in Stillwater with the individual championships up next. Mary Stoiana, Nicole Khirin, and Mia Kupres all have a chance to compete for a singles national championship, while Stoiana/Kupres have earned a spot in the doubles draw as well.
On the men's side, Raphael Perot and JC Roddick will compete in singles; Togan Tokac/Giulio Perego will compete in doubles.
