News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
TEMPE, Ariz. – Four Aggies earned a ranking in the ITA’s Top 125 after the conclusion of the fall season, headlined by the reigning Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Player of the Year, Mary Stoiana, at No. 4 in singles.
Nicole Khirin took the No. 15 spot, making the Aggies one of only two teams in the nation with multiple players ranked in the singles top 15. Also making the list was Daria Smetannikov, who ranks as the No. 102 player in the country. Smetannikov also found herself on the doubles rankings at the No. 70 spot with freshman Lexington Reed.
Khirin concluded the fall season at the NCAA Singles Championship quarterfinals, securing herself NCAA All-America honors in singles. The junior heads into the regular season with a 10-2 record, notching six wins over ranked opponents.
Stoiana finished her fall campaign with an 8-2 ledger, claiming seven ranked wins in the process. The senior ended the year by making her way to the NCAA Singles round of 16 for the second-straight season. Stoiana earned her first professional circuit singles title with a win at the ITF W75 – Edmond Open and helped Team USA claim its fifth-consecutive Master’U BNP Paribas Title.
Smetannikov made her way back into the ITA Top 125 after not holding a ranking at the beginning of the fall campaign. The junior made her way to the NCAA Singles Championships for the first time in her career, ending the fall season 13-5 in singles with one ranked win.
Freshman Lexington Reed made her college debut for the Aggies in the H-E-B invitational, where she picked up two singles wins. The freshman also qualified for her first ever main draw of a 100k pro tournament at the W100 Tyler, picking up three wins in the process.
The Maroon & White start the regular season at the Hawaii Invitational on Jan. 8.