In a remarkable display of athleticism and determination, Texas A&M’s women’s tennis team captured their second NCAA title by defeating Auburn 4-1. The championship match took place in Athens, Georgia, where senior Daria Smetannikov, hailing from New Jersey, secured the decisive victory in the No. 6 singles match. Smetannikov triumphed over Auburn’s Ava Esposito with scores of 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, clinching the title while the No. 1 and No. 2 singles matches were still underway.
Texas A&M’s journey to the championship was marked by a series of impressive performances. Lexington Reed contributed to the team’s success with a win in the No. 4 singles, defeating Merna Refaat 7-6, 6-3. Violeta Martinez also delivered a strong performance, taking the No. 4 matchup against Ashton Bowers with scores of 7-5, 6-1.
The Aggies’ victory was a testament to their consistent excellence, as they have now made three consecutive championship appearances. Their first national title was claimed in 2024, and this latest win further solidifies their standing in collegiate tennis.
Path to Victory
Texas A&M’s path to the championship was not without challenges. The team faced a formidable opponent in Auburn, who had defeated No. 3 Ohio State 4-1 in the semifinals to reach their first national championship appearance. Auburn’s success in the SEC, where they won both the regular season title and the SEC Championship for the first time, highlighted their strength as competitors.
In the semifinals, Texas A&M overcame No. 2 Georgia with a narrow 4-3 victory, setting the stage for their final showdown with Auburn. The Aggies had previously faced Auburn at home on April 12, winning 4-3, but had suffered a 4-1 defeat to the Tigers in the SEC Tournament semifinals.
During the championship match, Texas A&M secured the doubles point, with Smetannikov and Reed winning their No. 3 doubles match 6-1 against Ekaterina Khairutdinova and Bowers. Lucciana Perez and Mia Kupres also contributed by edging out Ava Esposito and DJ Bennett 7-6, ensuring the doubles point for the Aggies.
Lucciana Perez, who maintained an impressive 28-0 record, was leading Bennett 4-3 in the third set on the No. 1 court when Smetannikov clinched the championship. Meanwhile, Kupres and Khairutdinova were tied 1-1 in the third set at No. 2.
Auburn’s sole point came from Angella Okutoyi, who defeated Ilinca Amariei 6-2, 6-2 in the No. 3 singles match.
Original reporting: Fort Worth, TX Sports (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
