Women's Tennis . March 1, 2024

Women’s Tennis Falls at No. 21 Texas A&M

College Station, Texas – No. 14 South Carolina women’s tennis was bested 6-1 on the road at No. 21 Texas A&M to open SEC play.

In doubles, the decision was quick with the Aggies taking the No. 3 match 6-0 and the No. 2 match 6-4 to claim the point.

In singles play, the Aggies clinched the match with straight set wins on Courts 3, 6, and 4 then added another point from Court 2.

At the top of the lineup, No. 7 Ayana Akli was taking on the nation’s top-ranked player in Mary Stoiana. The Gamecock took the first set 6-2 but the Aggie took the second 6-4. With the match already clinched, the final set was played as a ten-point tiebreaker that Stoiana came out on top of 10-7.

The final match on was between Elise Mills and Daria Smetonnikov on Court 4. The Aggie took the first set 6-2 but Mills battled back to claim the second set in a lengthy tiebreaker 7-6(8). Again, the final set was played as a ten-point tiebreaker with the lead changing multiple times throughout and neither player being able to hold the lead by more than one point. Eventually after saving match point at 9-10, Mills was finally able to claim the win 13-11.

The women’s tennis team will continue SEC opening weekend on the road, traveling to Baton Rouge to take on No. 63 LSU on Sunday at noon ET.

For all the latest South Carolina women’s tennis information, continue to follow GamecocksOnline.com or the team on social media (@GamecockWTennis).

#21 Texas A&M 6, #14 South Carolina 1

Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1)

1. #4 Mary Stoiana/Mia Kupres (TAMU) vs. #45 Sarah Hamner/Ayana Akli (SC) 5-3, unfinished

2. Jeanette Mireles/Lucciana Perez (TAMU) def. Elise Mills/Misa Malkin (SC) 6-4

3. Sydney Fitch/Nicole Khirin (TAMU) def. Olympe Lancelot/Shahar Biran (SC) 6-0

Order of finish: Singles (3,6,4,2,1,5)

1. #1 Mary Stoiana (TAMU) def. #7 Ayana Akli (SC) 2-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)

2. #19 Nicole Khirin (TAMU) def. #6 Sarah Hamner (SC) 6-4, 7-5

3. #29 Mia Kupres (TAMU) def. #119 Shahar Biran (SC) 6-3, 6-2

4. Lucciana Perez (TAMU) def. Misa Malkin (SC) 6-0, 6-4