ST. GEORGE, Utah – Tarleton State Tennis took home the first Western Athletic Conference championship crowns of the 2025-26 season, sweeping the singles and doubles titles of the WAC Fall Tennis Invitational that concluded Saturday at Utah Tech's Trailblazer Tennis Courts. 

Sophomore Maria Castano took home the singles crown after defeating Abilene Christian's Masha Vrsalovic in straight sets 6-4, 6-1. The No. 1 seed's title marks back-to-back years that Tarleton State took home the WAC Fall Invitational singles crown, with Noelia Lorca taking the title in the event's first year last fall. 

Freshman Aya Ishii took home the doubles title with Castano, defeating Vrsalovic and Alice Klinteby from Abilene Christian 6-3, 7-6(9). This was the first WAC Fall Invitational doubles title for the Texans in program history. 

Castano and Ishii punched their ticket to the ITA Conference Masters Championships Nov. 6-9 in San Diego for a chance to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships. Castano will play both singles and doubles while Ishii will compete in doubles. 

"I'm extremely proud of our team this weekend," head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron said. "Maria showed why she's the strongest player in our conference. She's worked incredibly hard over the past year to earn this opportunity, and her performance reflected that dedication. She played outstanding tennis this weekend and it was truly fun to watch.

"In addition to her singles title, Maria and Aya brought great energy and focus to the doubles court. They competed with intensity, executed under pressure, and earned a hard-fought win in the finals. I'm excited to watch them continue to develop as a pair moving forward."

Castano/Ishii did not lose a set on their way to the doubles title. They defeated Mariana Zurita Berdecio/Maya Inouye from Utah Tech 6-3, 6-3 before edging ACU's doubles team in the second set tiebreak in the final. 

The top-seeded Castano did not lose a set en route to the singles title. After her straight sets win over UTA, Castano finished off the semifinals with a bagel (6-0 set) to punch her ticket to the final. The sophomore dominated action in the singles final to help the Texans repeat as singles champions of the event. 

Senior Emma Persson took care of business in the singles quarterfinal, collecting a bagel (6-0 set) in the second set to move on to the semifinals. Although she did not advance to the final, Persson ended her tournament with a win in the third place match by edging Utah Tech's Mariana Zurita Berdecio in the tiebreak. 

"Every match we played this weekend showed discipline and purpose, with the clear goal of bringing home a championship," Douglas-Miron said. "Repeating as singles champions from last year and adding the doubles title is a direct reflection of the hard work and standards we've set this fall. I'm proud of how this team represented Tarleton State and upheld the standard of Texan Nation."

The schedule and draws for the ITA Conference Masters Championships will be announced at a later date.