Freshman Anna Perelman clinched victory under immense pressure, as Texas A&M overcame a doubles deficit to stun Oklahoma and reach the ITA Indoor Semifinals.
Texas A&M women’s tennis continues to prove it belongs among the nation’s elite. The No. 2 Aggies knocked off No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday at the ITA National Team Indoor Championship, earning a 4-2 victory and punching their ticket to the semifinals for the third time in the last four seasons.
The match came down to freshman Anna Perelman, and she delivered under pressure. After dropping the opening set, Perelman rallied to defeat Barakat Quadre 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on court six, sealing the match and showcasing poise well beyond her years.
The Moscow, Russia native battled through multiple tight games late, staying composed to close out one of the biggest wins of her young career.
The Aggies entered singles play trailing after a tightly contested doubles point. Oklahoma edged out the opening point by winning two of the three doubles matches, forcing Texas A&M to respond in singles - and respond they did.
Momentum flipped quickly once singles began. Lexington Reed jump-started the comeback with a convincing 6-3, 6-3 win over No. 123 Chloe Noel. Shortly after, Daria Smetannikov extended the Aggies’ surge with a 6-1, 6-3 victory on court five.
The Maroon & White then seized full control thanks to Lucciana Perez, who knocked off No. 12 Julia Garcia Ruiz in straight sets. The win improved Perez to a perfect 8-0 in dual singles play this season and underscored her reliability in big moments.
Oklahoma briefly pushed back when Edda Mamedova claimed a straight-set win on court four, tightening the score and shifting attention to the remaining courts. With tension building, all eyes turned to Perelman - and the freshman didn’t blink.
Head coach Mark Weaver praised his team’s response after dropping the doubles point, calling the victory one of the most impressive of his tenure.
"This was a remarkable effort for our team. I honestly think this ranks as one of our better wins that I can recall," Weaver said. "There were a lot of heroes, but what amazing composure by our freshman Anna Perelman to push us across the finish line. She had a match point at 5-3 deuce that didn't go our way, and she did a great job of staying in the moment and pulled out the 5-4 deuce game to seal the deal for the Aggies.
"To drop the doubles point against one of the best teams in the nation and to respond the way we responded says a whole lot about our group's resiliency."
Texas A&M improved to 8-1 on the season with the win, while also reinforcing its reputation as one of the most resilient teams in the country. The Aggies now turn their attention to a semifinal showdown against No. 10 Ohio State Buckeyes, set for Monday night in Evanston.
With confidence high and depth shining across the lineup, Texas A&M looks ready for another deep national run.