STEPHENVILLE – For the second straight month, Tarleton State Tennis swept the monthly awards from the Western Athletics Conference.
Sophomore Maria Castano was named the WAC Singles Player of the Month for October, with Castano and freshman Aya Ishii being named Doubles Players of the Month for October.
The awards up the Texans’ midseason monthly/weekly award total at the Division I level to 51 under head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron.
In singles, Castano went 4-1 in October and won the singles title as the No. 1 seed at the WAC Fall Tennis Invitational. She won each of her matches in straight sets in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final. The sophomore also advanced to the Round of 32 in the singles main draw at the ITA Texas Regional Championships, winning in straight sets there as well.
Singles player of the month is just another perk on the list of accolades in Castano’s short college career. In the spring, she was WAC Freshman of the Year, made the All-WAC First Team and tournament team plus won WAC Singles Player of the Week in February. She also led the Texans in singles and doubles wins.
Castano and Ishii took home the doubles title at the WAC Fall Tennis Invitational, the first doubles title at the event in program history. This earned the duo a spot in the ITA Conference Masters Championship in San Diego starting Thursday (Nov. 6-9), where they will have a chance to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Castano will also compete in singles.
Ishii now has her first monthly/weekly honor to accompany her eventful freshman season. The Japan native holds a 4-2 record in doubles, but has really made her mark in singles. She is finished the fall season with a 7-1 mark.
The freshman posted a bagel (6-0 set) in her first set as a Texan in the Cowgirl Invite and most recently went undefeated in singles at the UIW Fall Tournament, leading the Texans to a 31-4 overall record at the event.
The Texans wrap up fall play at the ITA Conference Masters Championship starting Thursday, where Castano and Ishii will be the two representatives from Tarleton State.
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