Women's Tennis 9/11/2025 11:41:00 AM Kaden Rowland

Tarleton State Tennis opens 2025-26 fall campaign at Cowgirl Invite this weekend

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Tarleton State Tennis will open its 2025-26 campaign on the road this weekend, competing in the Cowgirl Invite from Sept. 12-14 at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center.

The Texans return to competition for the first time since finishing as semifinalists in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament last spring. Tarleton State is coming off a 13-8 season, including an undefeated 7-0 record at the Tarleton Tennis Facility and has established itself as a WAC powerhouse. Seventh-year head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron owns an 83-39 career record at the helm.

Tarleton State will go up against host school McNeese along with Texas State and UL-Lafayette in a hidden dual format. First serve will take place at 9 a.m. each day.

This will mark the third all-time meeting between Tarleton State and McNeese, with the Texans holding a 2-0 advantage in the series. In their most recent matchup in March 2025, Tarleton State claimed a 5-2 victory behind four singles wins and two doubles victories.

Sophomore Maria Castano enters the season as one of the top returning players in the conference after earning WAC Freshman of the Year, All-WAC First Team, and All-WAC Tournament Team honors last year. Castano posted a 15-4 singles record and went 13-4 in doubles in her debut season.

Seniors Ximena Morales, Emma Persson, and Adeliya Mukhutdinova bring veteran leadership and experience to the roster. Morales went 11-6 in singles and 11-3 in doubles last season, while Mukhutdinova earned All-WAC Second Team honors after finishing 13-5 in singles. Persson, the 2023 WAC Player of the Year, looks to bounce back after a 5-10 singles campaign, but remains one of the top doubles players in the conference with a 12-4 mark last season.

Tarleton State also adds three freshmen to the roster this fall: Aya Ishi, Dariia Medviedieva, and Marissa Minetti. All are expected to compete for a spot in the lineup during the season.

The Texans dominated doubles in their last outing against McNeese, winning two of three doubles matches to clinch the doubles point. Kuscu, Lorca, Morales, and Castano each picked up singles wins in that match.

McNeese, meanwhile, is expected to be a tough early-season test. The Cowgirls are led by returner Salome Fluri, who earned a three-set singles win over Persson in their last meeting. McNeese's coaching staff features two former Texans in head coach Sonia Carlson (former assistant) and recent Texan standout Noelia Lorca, who enters her first season as an assistant coach for the Cowgirls.

The Cowgirl Invitational marks the beginning of a fall schedule for TarletonState that will include tournament play and early opportunities for lineup development heading into the spring dual season.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Facility: Nancy Hank Tennis Center
First Serve: 9 a.m. each day
Field: Tarleton State, Texas State, UL-Lafayette, McNeese
Format: Hidden Dual

TEXANS' SCHEDULE
Friday, Sept. 12
9 a.m. – Doubles
Tarleton State vs. UL-Lafayette
10 a.m.- Singles
McNeese vs. Tarleton State

Saturday, Sept. 13
9 a.m.- Doubles
Tarleton State vs. Texas State
10 a.m.- Doubles
McNeese vs. Tarleton State
11 a.m.- Singles
Tarleton State vs. UL-Lafayette

Sunday, Sept. 14
9 a.m.- Singles
Tarleton State vs. Texas State

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Players Mentioned

Noelia Lorca: Senior

Maria Castano: Sophomore

Ximena Morales: Senior

Adeliya Mukhutdinova: Senior

Emma Persson: Senior

Aya Ishi: Freshman

Marissa Minetti: Freshman

Dariia Medviedieva: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Noelia Lorca
: Senior

Maria Castano
: Sophomore

Ximena Morales
: Senior

Adeliya Mukhutdinova
: Senior

Emma Persson
: Senior

Aya Ishi
: Freshman

Marissa Minetti
: Freshman

Dariia Medviedieva
: Freshman