News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION – The No. 13 Texas A&M women’s tennis team secured its 55th-straight win at home to punch its ticket to the Super Regional for the fifth year in a row after sweeping No. 18 Oklahoma at the Mitchell Tennis Center Sunday, 4-0, in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament.
Texas A&M (24-7) took the early lead over the Sooners (19-7), securing the doubles point in a tight battle. Nicole Khirin/Jeanette Mireles made quick work of Chloe Noel/Alina Shcherbinina on court 3 to put the Aggies in position to claim the first point, but Oklahoma kept things close on courts 1 and 2, tying both up at 5-5. No. 7 Mary Stoiana/Mia Kupres stepped up and won back-to-back games to claim a 7-5 victory over No. 26 Roisin Gilheany/Dana Guzman and grab the 1-0 lead.
Doubling the Aggie advantage was No. 88 Carson Branstine, who dominated No. 37 Julia Garcia Ruiz in straight sets on court 1 (6-2, 6-1).
Next to strike for the Maroon & White was No. 45 Kupres, who cruised to a victory over No. 66 Florencia Urrutia (6-1, 6-2) on court 4 to claim her 11th win of the season against ranked opponents.
Mireles dealt the match-clinching blow on court 6 against Noel (6-4, 6-3) to secure A&M’s third-consecutive season with an undefeated record at home and her sixth-straight singles victory.
COACH’S QUOTES
Head coach Mark Weaver on the team’s performance …
“Doubles was key today. I feel like we could have maybe closed it out a little earlier before it got a little interesting toward the end. It really could have gone either way as it played out. Once we got that point under our belt you could see the confidence growing on our side.
“We talked after the doubles point was over about really setting the tone early in singles play. For the most part across the board we got some commanding leads in the beginning of the first sets on all the singles courts. It just seemed like the momentum and confidence really started growing there. Even in the two matches where we were down, on courts 3 and 5, we lost the first set and then made some great turns and were in third sets when the match was clinched.”
Up Next
The Aggies will take on No. 4 North Carolina on its home court, the Chewning Tennis Center, in the NCAA Super Regional on Friday, May 10. The time will be determined at a later date.
Match Results
Singles Results
(TAMU) No. 88 Carson Branstine Def. (OU) No. 37 Julia Garcia Ruiz (6-1, 6-2)
(TAMU) No. 1 Mary Stoiana – (OU) No. 40 Dana Guzman (6-3, 5-4) unfinished
(TAMU) No. 26 Nicole Khirin – (OU) No. 121 Alina Shcherbinina (2-6, 6-3, 0-2) unfinished
(TAMU) No. 45 Mia Kupres Def. (OU) No. 66 Florencia Urrutia (6-1, 6-2)
(TAMU) Lucciana Perez – (OU) Emma Staker (3-6, 6-4, 1-0) unfinished
(TAMU) Jeanette Mireles Def. (OU) Chloe Noel (6-4, 6-3)
Double Results
(TAMU) No. 7 Mary Stoiana/Mia Kupres Def. (OU) No. 26 Roisin Gilheany/Dana Guzman (7-5)
(TAMU) Carson Branstine/Lucciana Perez – (OU) Zdena Safarova/Julia Garcia Ruiz (6-6) unfinished
(TAMU) Nicole Khirin/Jeanette Mireles Def. (OU) Chloe Noel/Alina Shcherbinina (6-2)