HOUSTON, Texas – The UT Arlington women’s tennis team concluded their 2024 fall season this past weekend, competing fiercely at the esteemed Rice Invitational held at the George R. Brown Tennis Center.
Despite the excitement surrounding the tournament, persistent rain in the forecast caused significant disruptions, forcing delays in match schedules over several days and impacting the performance of all participating teams.
Below are the detailed results from the three-day long action-packed Rice Invitational:
FRIDAY
Doubles:
Flight 2 – Jayna Clemens/Gianna Oboniye of Mississippi State triumphed over UTA’s Iona Dumitrescu/Nika Novikova with a score of 6-4.
Flight 3 (Round Robin) – Valeriia Ivanovskaia and Maria Araoz-Gosn from UTA defeated UTRGV’s Valentina Urraco and Hitakamya Narwal, securing victory with a score of 6-3.
Singles:
Flight 4 – Alessia Tagliente from Mississippi State claimed victory over UTA’s Valeriia Ivanovskaia, finishing 6-4, 6-2.
Flight 5 – Jayna Clemens of Mississippi State delivered a dominant performance, overwhelming Nika Novikova of UTA with a decisive 6-0, 6-0.
Flight 5 – Madeleine Joffe of UTRGV edged out UTA’s Ioana Dumitrescu in a hard-fought match, rallying back to win 6-7 (7:9), 7-6 (7:3), 6-1.
Flight 6 – Maria Araoz-Gosn from UTA showcased her skills, defeating Indi Patel of LSU with a convincing score of 6-1, 6-2.
SATURDAY
Doubles:
Flight 2 –Yaiza Vazquez/Madeleine Joffe of UTRGV triumphed over UTA’s duo of Ioana Dumitrescu and Nika Novikova, winning with a score of 6-2.
Flight 3 (Round Robin) – Emma Cohen and Alessia Tagliente from Mississippi State defeated UTA’s Maria Araoz-Gosn and Valeriia Ivanovskaia decisively with a score of 6-3.
Flight 3 (Round Robin) – UTRGV’s Mariia Bakhtina and Rhea Makesar clinched victory over UTA’s Valeriia Ivanovskaia and Maria Araoz-Gosn with a score of 6-1.
Singles:
Flight 4 (West) – Valeriia Ivanovskaia from UTA emerged victorious against Baylor’s Lauren Littell, rallying to a score of 4-6, 6-3 (10-7).
Flight 5 –Hitakamya Narwal Singh of UTRGV defeated UTA’s Nika Novikova decisively, with a final score of 6-1, 6-2.
Flight 5 –Baylor’s Brooke Thompson triumphed over Ioana Dumitrescu of UTA due to her opponent’s injury, winning by walkover.
Flight 6 – Gabriela Felix da Silva from Iowa State secured a victory against UTA’s Maria Araoz-Gosn, with a score of 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1.
SUNDAY
Singles:
Flight 4 (West) – Anushka Ashar of Rice defeated Valeriia Ivanovskaia from UTA 6-3, 6-2.
Flight 6 (3-4 Playoff) – Rhea Makesar from UTRGV won against UTA’s Maria Araoz-Gosn, as the latter retired after scoring 0-3.
With the conclusion of an intense tournament, the UTA women’s tennis team now shifts its focus toward spring competition, aiming for a coveted Western Athletic Conference title. The highly anticipated 2025 spring season will commence in January. Stay tuned for updates and a full schedule reveal in the near future.
– #BuckEm –
FOLLOW ALONG
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**Interview with UTA Women’s Tennis Head Coach, Chris Tilley**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Coach Tilley. The Rice Invitational was quite an event, both exciting for the players and challenging due to the weather. How did the team adapt to the disruptions caused by the rain?
**Coach Tilley:** Thanks for having me. It was definitely a unique experience. The weather changes forced us to show some flexibility, which is a critical skill in tennis. We implemented our indoor practice routines and kept the players mentally prepared for adjustments. Our priority was to maintain focus and keep morale high despite the delays.
**Editor:** Some players had impressive matches despite the conditions. Maria Araoz-Gosn had a standout performance, defeating Indi Patel from LSU. Can you share your thoughts on her game?
**Coach Tilley:** Absolutely! Maria’s match was a great highlight for us. She played consistently well, showing excellent control and strategic play against a tough opponent. Her ability to rally back and secure the win speaks volumes of her resilience and skill. She’s a key player for us going forward.
**Editor:** Looking at the doubles matches, there were some tough losses, particularly against Mississippi State and UTRGV. What did you identify as areas for improvement in those competitions?
**Coach Tilley:** Those matches offered valuable learning opportunities. We need to work on our communication and teamwork in doubles. The players are still getting familiar with each others’ playing styles, and that takes time. Our focus in practice will be on drills that enhance coordination and strategy, so we can come back stronger.
**Editor:** As you conclude the fall season, what are your overall impressions of the team’s performance? What are your plans moving forward?
**Coach Tilley:** I’m proud of the growth we’ve seen this fall. Many players showed significant improvement, which is promising. Moving ahead, we’ll focus on conditioning and refining our skills during the off-season. My goal is to prepare them for the spring season, where we’ll be competing for championships.
**Editor:** Thank you, Coach Tilley. We look forward to seeing how the team develops over the winter and into the spring.
**Coach Tilley:** Thank you! I appreciate your support and coverage of our team. Looking forward to an exciting spring season!
