News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
STILLWATER – Nicole Khirin clinched the match with a forehand smash at the net to send the No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies to their first NCAA women’s tennis title with a 4-1 victory over the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs.
After the Maroon & White mounted a 3-1 advantage it was a race between Khirin on Court 3 and Carson Branstine on Court 2 to close out the match. Khirin prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 over Mell Reasco while Branstine was well on her way to finishing her match with a 6-2, 5-7, 5-0 edge when the dogpile ensued.
The Aggies (28-7) got redemption after dropping their three contests to Georgia during the season, including a 4-1 loss at in the SEC Tournament championship match.
The doubles action started outside with Georgia having a slight edge on the scoreboard. Play was moved indoors due to inclement weather and with the yells of the 12th Man in attendance echoing off the walls the momentum flipped to the Aggies. The doubles combo of Khirin and Jeanette Mireles scored the last three points on Court 3 to prevail 6-3 over Reasco and Anastasiia Lopata. Shortly afterward Branstine and Lucciana Perez overwhelmed Georgia’s Mai Nirundorn and Guellermina Grant with four straight points to win 6-4 on Court 4 and clinch the reward in doubles.
The Maroon & White kept the momentum early in singles actions. Texas A&M carried the opening set on the first four courts to finish, including Mary Stoiana on Court 1, Branstine on Court 2 and Perez on Court 5. Khirin trailed 4-2 on Court 3 before storming back to take the first set 6-4.
Georgia (25-5) kept things tense by taking the first sets on Courts 4 and 6.
The Bulldogs earned the first point of singles with Lopata topping Mia Kupres on Court 4, 6-4, 6-1 to tie the match 1-1. Meanwhile they forced a third set on Court 3.
While Courts 2 and 3 were headed to third sets, the Aggies reclaimed the lead with a couple tiebreakers to complete sweeps on Courts 5 and 1. Perez topped Grant 6-2, 7-6(2) and Stoiana knocked off Dasha Vidmanova 6-1, 7-6(4) as the Maroon & White staked claim to a 3-1 edge.
The Aggies dominated the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team. Stoiana earned Tournament MVP and all-tournament at first singles. The others to earn the honors in singles were Branstine (No. 2), Khirin (No. 3) and Perez (No. 5). Texas A&M swept the all-tournament recognition in doubles, including Stoiana/Kupres vs. (No. 1), Branstine/Perez (No. 2) and Khirin/Mireles (No. 3).
Up Next
The Aggies open their individual NCAA Championships Monday with Stoiana, Khirin and Kupres competing in the opening round of singles starting at 9 a.m.
Match Results
Singles (order of finish)
(TAMU) No. 1 Mary Stoiana def. (UGA) No. 16 Dasha Vidmanova – 6-1, 7-6 (4) (3)
(TAMU) No. 88 Carson Branstine vs. (UGA) No. 41 Alexa Vecic – 6-2 , 5-7, 5-0 (unfinished)
(TAMU) No. 26 Nicole Khirin def. (UGA) No. 65 Mell Reasco – 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 (4)
(UGA) No. 70 Anastasiia Lopata def. (TAMU) No. 45 Mia Kupres – 6-4, 6-1 (1)
(TAMU) Lucciana Perez def. (UGA) Guillermina Grant – 6-2, 7-6 (2) (2)
(TAMU) Jeanette Mireles vs. (UGA) No. 87 Mai Nirundorn, 6-7 (5), 5-4 (unfinished)
Double (order of finish)
(TAMU) No. 7 Mary Stoiana/Mia Kupres vs. (UGA) No. 14 Aysegul Mert/Dasha Vidmanova – 4-5 (unfinished)
(TAMU) Carson Branstine/Lucciana Perez def. (UGA) No. 55 Mai Nirundorn/Guillermina Grant – 6-4 (2)
(TAMU) Nicole Khirin/Jeanette Mireles def. (UGA) Mell Reasco/Anastasiia Lopata – 6-3 (1)