Thursday, April 2
Bryan-College Station
5:00 PM
Texas A&M
4
vs
3
Auburn
No. 2 Aggies Rally Past No. 4 Auburn
Apr 02, 2026 | Women's Tennis
COLLEGE STATION– The No. 2 Texas A&M women's tennis team rallied past Auburn, 4-3, in Thursdays SEC first place battle at the Mitchell Tennis Center.
Freshmen Anna Perelman delivered the match-clinching moment for Texas A&M (19-3, 11-1), rallying from a set down to defeat Alice Battesti 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, on court 6. The comeback sealed the victory for the Aggies and marked Head Coach Mark Weaver's 250th career win at Texas A&M.
Doubles play opened with a tightly contested battle as the Aggies split the first two courts with Auburn (26-3, 10-2). Daria Smetannikov/Lexington Reed put the Maroon & White on the board with a 6-1 win over Ekaterina Khairutdinova/Ashton Bowers on court 3, while No. 21 Angella Okutoyi/Merna Refaat countered with a 6-4 victory against No. 54 Ilinca Amariei/Violeta Martinez on court 2.
With the point on the line, the Tigers secured the doubles win on court 1 as No. 18 Mia Kupres/Lucciana Perez fell 6-4 to No. 10 DJ Bennett/Ava Esposito.
Singles play opened with Auburn extending its lead as Refaat defeated No. 102 Martinez, 6-1, 6-1, on court 4. Texas A&M answered back on court 2 as No. 43 Kupres delivered a strong 6-3, 6-0 victory over No. 80 Khairutdinova to get the Aggies on the board. The Tigers responded on court 3, where No. 55 Okutoyi bested No. 124 Reed, 6-4, 6-1.
The Maroon & White continued to battle back on court 5, where Smetannikov earned a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over No. 44 Bowers to pull the Aggies within one. Texas A&M evened the match on court 1 as No. 1 Perez took down No. 38 Bennett, 6-2, 6-4, extending her SEC regular season winning streak to 31 matches and improving to 20-0 overall.
Texas A&M 4, Auburn 3
Mitchell Tennis Center –College Station, Texas
SINGLES
#1 Lucciana Perez (A&M) def. #38 DJ Bennett (AUB) – 6-2, 6-4
#43 Mia Kupres (A&M) def. #80 Ekaterina Khairutdinova (AUB) – 6-3, 6-0
#55 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. #124 Lexington Reed (A&M) – 6-4, 6-1
Merna Refaat (AUB) def. #102 Violeta Martinez (A&M) – 6-1, 6-1
Daria Smetannikov (A&M) (A&M) def. #44 Ashton Bowers (AUB) – 6-4, 6-2
Anna Perelman (A&M) def. Alice Battesti (AUB) – 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish – 4, 2, 3, 5, 1, 6
DOUBLES
#10 Bennett/Esposito (AUB) def. No. 18 Kupres/Perez (A&M) – 4-6
#21 Okutoyi/Refaat (AUB) def. #54 Amariei/Martinez (A&M) – 4-6
Smetannikov/Reed (A&M) def. Khairutdinova/Bowers (AUB) – 6-1
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 1
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Weaver
On the match...
"There was incredible resilience today. We had a heartbreaker there in the doubles point. To face that adversity and to come out and play like we did in singles with grit and determination, I am so proud of the girls for their fight."
On achieving 250 career wins...
"This is quite the match to make 250. I have been a part of some exciting matches, and that was right up there at the top."
Freshman Anna Perelman
On the match...
"It feels amazing to clinch in such a big match. It means a lot to me, all the hard work we've put in. I started to play more consistent and go for more shots. I think I did a great job. We all deserved this win."
UP NEXT...
The Aggies return to action Saturday when they host No. 16 Florida in a 12 p.m. contest at the Mitchell Tennis Center.
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and on X by following @AggieWTEN.
Freshmen Anna Perelman delivered the match-clinching moment for Texas A&M (19-3, 11-1), rallying from a set down to defeat Alice Battesti 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, on court 6. The comeback sealed the victory for the Aggies and marked Head Coach Mark Weaver's 250th career win at Texas A&M.
Doubles play opened with a tightly contested battle as the Aggies split the first two courts with Auburn (26-3, 10-2). Daria Smetannikov/Lexington Reed put the Maroon & White on the board with a 6-1 win over Ekaterina Khairutdinova/Ashton Bowers on court 3, while No. 21 Angella Okutoyi/Merna Refaat countered with a 6-4 victory against No. 54 Ilinca Amariei/Violeta Martinez on court 2.
With the point on the line, the Tigers secured the doubles win on court 1 as No. 18 Mia Kupres/Lucciana Perez fell 6-4 to No. 10 DJ Bennett/Ava Esposito.
Singles play opened with Auburn extending its lead as Refaat defeated No. 102 Martinez, 6-1, 6-1, on court 4. Texas A&M answered back on court 2 as No. 43 Kupres delivered a strong 6-3, 6-0 victory over No. 80 Khairutdinova to get the Aggies on the board. The Tigers responded on court 3, where No. 55 Okutoyi bested No. 124 Reed, 6-4, 6-1.
The Maroon & White continued to battle back on court 5, where Smetannikov earned a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over No. 44 Bowers to pull the Aggies within one. Texas A&M evened the match on court 1 as No. 1 Perez took down No. 38 Bennett, 6-2, 6-4, extending her SEC regular season winning streak to 31 matches and improving to 20-0 overall.
Texas A&M 4, Auburn 3
Mitchell Tennis Center –College Station, Texas
SINGLES
#1 Lucciana Perez (A&M) def. #38 DJ Bennett (AUB) – 6-2, 6-4
#43 Mia Kupres (A&M) def. #80 Ekaterina Khairutdinova (AUB) – 6-3, 6-0
#55 Angella Okutoyi (AUB) def. #124 Lexington Reed (A&M) – 6-4, 6-1
Merna Refaat (AUB) def. #102 Violeta Martinez (A&M) – 6-1, 6-1
Daria Smetannikov (A&M) (A&M) def. #44 Ashton Bowers (AUB) – 6-4, 6-2
Anna Perelman (A&M) def. Alice Battesti (AUB) – 4-6, 6-2, 6-4
Order of Finish – 4, 2, 3, 5, 1, 6
DOUBLES
#10 Bennett/Esposito (AUB) def. No. 18 Kupres/Perez (A&M) – 4-6
#21 Okutoyi/Refaat (AUB) def. #54 Amariei/Martinez (A&M) – 4-6
Smetannikov/Reed (A&M) def. Khairutdinova/Bowers (AUB) – 6-1
Order of Finish – 3, 2, 1
TEXAS A&M QUOTES
Head Coach Mark Weaver
On the match...
"There was incredible resilience today. We had a heartbreaker there in the doubles point. To face that adversity and to come out and play like we did in singles with grit and determination, I am so proud of the girls for their fight."
On achieving 250 career wins...
"This is quite the match to make 250. I have been a part of some exciting matches, and that was right up there at the top."
Freshman Anna Perelman
On the match...
"It feels amazing to clinch in such a big match. It means a lot to me, all the hard work we've put in. I started to play more consistent and go for more shots. I think I did a great job. We all deserved this win."
UP NEXT...
The Aggies return to action Saturday when they host No. 16 Florida in a 12 p.m. contest at the Mitchell Tennis Center.
FOLLOW THE AGGIES
Visit 12thman.com for more information on Texas A&M women's tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women's tennis team on Facebook, Instagram, and on X by following @AggieWTEN.
Team Stats
#1 Doubles Match
#2 Doubles Match
#3 Doubles Match
Order of Finish:
3,2,1
#1 Singles Match
12
DJ Bennett / 0 (38/-) [AUB]
24
66
#2 Singles Match
12
E. Khairutdinova / 0 (80/-) [AUB]
30
66
#3 Singles Match
12
Angella Okutoyi / 0 (69/-) [AUB]
66
41
#4 Singles Match
12
Merna Refaat / 0 [AUB]
66
11
#5 Singles Match
12
Ashton Bowers / 0 (44/-) [AUB]
42
66
#6 Singles Match
123
Alice Battesti / 0 [AUB]
625
467
Order of Finish:
4,2,3,5,1,6
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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