News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
WACO – No. 1 Mary Stoiana and No. 9 Nicole Khirin won straight-set decisions in Wednesday’s NCAA Division I Singles Championship second round action at Baylor’s Hurd Tennis Center.
The triumphs gave No. 1 Texas A&M two players in a Round of 16 for the first time in program history.
“I’m so proud of Mary and Nicole today,” head coach Mark Weaver said. “Two players in the round of 16, two more All-Americans for our program. I’m just delighted for them to receive these honors. They’ve shown a tremendous amount of dedication and put in a tremendous amount of hard work all throughout their careers and especially this semester to put themselves in this situation.”
Stoiana earned a 6-1, 7-5 victory over No. 55 Piper Charney of Michigan while Khirin took down No. 70 Sabine Rutlauka of Penn, 6-4, 6-1.
After claiming her third straight 6-1 set to start the match, Stoiana received a tough test from Charney in the second set. The players held serve until the last game, when Stoiana earned the break amid winning eight of the last 10 points.
“Mary did really well today,” Weaver said. “She played an excellent first set and her opponent really raised her game in the second set and challenged Mary. It was good for Mary that she was challenged a bit. That will help her throughout the remainder of the event.”
Khirin was knotted at 3-3 in the first set when she broke Rutlauka’s serve and went on to win 9 of the next 11 games.
“Nicole’s opponent started out very well and it looked like it was going to be a really tough match,” Weaver said. “Nicole won some key points there in the first set, got the momentum and pretty much ran away. It was a great bounce back to come away with a very decisive win today after a tough match, both physically and mentally, yesterday,”
Both players are slated for 10 a.m. matches Thursday. Stoiana faces No. 74 Elaine Chervinsky of Virginia. Khirin battles No. 4 Connie Ma of Stanford, the No. 6 seed in the tournament.
2024 marked the first time in school history the Aggies had three players qualify for the NCAA Division I Singles Championship. Wednesday, Texas A&M attempts to put two players in the round of 16 for the first time in school annals.
Wednesday’s Round of 32 Results
No. 1 Mary Stoiana (A&M) def. No. 55 Piper Charney (UM) – 6-1, 7-5
No. 9 Nicole Khirin (A&M) def. No. 70 Sabine Rutlauka (Penn) – 6-4, 6-1
Thursday’s Round of 16 Matches
No. 1 Mary Stoiana (A&M) vs. No. 74 Elaine Chervinsky (UVA) – 10 a.m.
No. 9 Nicole Khirin (A&M) vs. No. 4 Connie Ma (Stan) – 10 a.m.
STATS & STREAMING
Fans can follow the matches through the live stats or watch the matches through the live stream.
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