STEPHENVILLE – Tarleton State Tennis is going into next week’s Western Athletic Conference Tournament with momentum, capping off the regular season with 15 wins after a 4-0 victory over conference rival Abilene Christian on Saturday at the Tarleton State Tennis Facility.
Saturday’s win gave the Texans a regular season sweep over WAC opponents in 2026, only allowing one opposing point during those matches. The win in Stephenville puts the 2026 home record at 8-1.
Seniors stepped up for the Texans in the regular season finale, combining for three of the Texans’ four points. Senior doubles duo Emma Persson and Ximena Morales obtained their 11th victory together, defeating ACU’s Victoria Correa and Angela Del Campo at No. 2 doubles. Morales and fellow senior Adeliya Mukhutdinova picked up singles wins, with sophomore Maria Castano clinching the deciding point at No. 1 singles.
“We played a quality tennis matchup,” head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron said. “The doubles was key for us. We took that momentum into the singles and Adele got us another point right away. Ximena followed and Maria finished it off. It really did take everyone to show up today and we did that.
“Today was about so much more than tennis. Our seniors carried us. They poured every once of heart they had on our courts one final time. Watching them walk off together, knowing what they’ve given to this program, is something I’ll carry with me for a long time. We are so proud of the women they’ve become. We are excited to carry that momentum into the conference tournament next week.”
Persson and Morales showed dominance in doubles to start the Texans off strong, not losing a game in their match on Court 2. After facing early adversity at No. 3 doubles, Castano and fellow sophomore Duru Kuscu persevered to put the Texans on top. Castano and Kuscu edged out ACU’s Jess Board and Alice Klinteby 7-5 to give Tarleton State the early lead going into singles play.
Mukhutdinova, who competed in her first singles match since March 17, controlled the singles action from beginning to end on Court 6. After winning set one with ease 6-1, Mukhutdinova capped off her final home match in dominating fashion. The senior did not lose a game in the second set, defeating Elsa Luthar 6-1, 6-0 to put the Texans ahead by two points.
Morales, as she has all year long, stepped up in singles. The senior won six of the nine games in the first set, controlling the action by taking six of the final seven games to defeat Alice Klinteby 6-3, 6-1 at No. 4 singles. Morales has won seven of her last eight singles matches and holds a 15-3 singles record going into postseason play.
Trailing early in the first set, Castano climbed back. The Dominican Republic native answered the bell by tying the first set 5-5, completing the comeback by coming away with the tiebreak. She won six of the final eight games to take the straight sets win and give the Texans the deciding point. Matches on Courts 2, 3 and 5 went unfinished.
Tarleton State will compete in the 2026 WAC Tournament starting Friday at the Arlington Tennis Center in Arlington, Texas. Match time, opponent and seeding is to be determined and will be announced next week.
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