Texas A&M women’s tennis rallied past No. 13 USC, winning five singles matches to reach the Elite Eight for a fifth straight season.
Texas A&M women’s tennis keeps making deep NCAA Tournament runs look routine.
The Aggies booked another trip to the Elite Eight on Friday, rallying from an early deficit to beat No. 13 seed USC, 5-1, at the Mitchell Tennis Center.
It was the fifth straight Elite Eight appearance for Texas A&M, a run that has turned the program into one of the most reliable postseason forces in college athletics. And this one took a little toughness.
USC grabbed the first punch by winning the doubles point, putting the Aggies in chase mode. But once singles play settled in, Texas A&M flipped the match completely.
Lucciana Perez, the nation’s No. 1-ranked player, delivered exactly the kind of response A&M needed.
She dominated her match with back-to-back 6-1 sets, quickly evening the team score and changing the energy of the afternoon.
Senior Violeta Martinez followed with another straight-set victory, giving the Aggies their first lead. Freshman Ilinca Amariei then added a two-set win of her own, pushing Texas A&M within one point of advancing.
The finish had plenty of drama. Mia Kupres and Lexington Reed each dropped their opening sets by 6-3 scores, but neither match got away.
Both fought back, took control late and closed out comeback wins at nearly the same time, turning a tense Sweet Sixteen battle into another emphatic postseason statement.
Now Texas A&M moves on to face No. 5 North Carolina on May 15 at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia. The match will stream on ESPN+.
For a program that has made this stage feel familiar, the mission is still massive. The Aggies aren’t just reaching the Elite Eight anymore.
They’re doing it with depth, resilience and the kind of singles firepower that can carry a team all the way.