LAKE CHARLES, La. – Tarleton State Tennis wrapped up its fall opener at the Cowgirl Invite with a combined 19 wins this weekend at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center. 

The Texans picked up eight doubles wins and 11 singles victories in their first event of the fall campaign. Tarleton State won over 67% of its matches this weekend. 

Sophomore Aya Ishii, the 2026 Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, won all three of her singles matches to lead the Texans. Junior Maria Castano, the 2026 WAC Player of the Year, teamed with freshman Erika Abraham-Nilsen to pick up three doubles wins. 

Freshmen Nuria Lafitte-Valls and Anna Huisgen also won three doubles matches together in their first collegiate event. Huisgen also posted a perfect 2-0 record in singles. 

"It was a great first weekend of play. Our young team showed lots of potential, and it was good to see everyone compete," head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron said. "'m really looking forward to continuing to work with this group! They have a desire to play matches and want to get better. I'm excited to see how much we can grow together this upcoming year."

Ishii and fellow sophomore Marissa Minetti found success in their first match against Texas State's Olivia Collins/Avery Arant, winning 6-4. Castano/Abraham-Nilsen teamed up for a win over Texas State's Julia Richardet/ Kinley VanPelt 6-1 on Friday. Later in the day, the duo took on McNeese's Jacqueline Schnabel/Salome Fluri and won 6-3. 
Lafitte-Valls/Huisgen took on Texas State's Tadiwanashe Mauchi/Juliette Jalai for a 6-4 win. They followed suit with another victory later in the day against McNeese's Ana Hollweg/Louna Cormier 7-5. Following her first duo competition, freshman Aruzhan Nuranbay teamed up with Texas State's Zoe Du Pasquier Jensen to defeat McNeese's Alexa Martinez/Elena Morales 6-4.

Similar to the double's victories, the Texans found success in singles action. Castano found singles success against the Cowgirls, defeating Erica Hagi by winning both sets 7-6(4), 6-4. Ishii defeated Louisiana's Ana Martinez 6-4, 6-3 later in the day. Minetti and Abraham-Nilsen both won against the Ragin' Cajuns. Minetti defeated Martina Della Gora 6-4, 6-2, followed by Abraham-Nilsen defeating Nina Krecklenberg 6-1, 6-2. 

In Saturday's portion of the tournament, the duo of Castano/Abraham-Nilsen found success again. They defeated Louisiana's Cassandra Lecoanet/Marilou Bressan 6-4. Alongside them, the duo of Lafitte-Valls and Abraham-Nilsen found success against the Ragin' Cajuns. The freshmen duo defeated Nina Kruckenberg/Martina Della Gora 6-3. 

Ishii came out with success in singles on Saturday, winning in a three-set match against McNeese's Salome Fluri 7-6, 6-7, 10-6. Along with Ishii, Lafitte-Valls, Huisgen, and Minetti were all victorious against McNeese. Lafitte-Valls beat Jacqueline Schnabel 6-3 7-5 and Huisgen beat Leana Gomez 6-4 7-5. Minetti defeated Hagi 6-3 6-4. 

The Sunday portion of the tournament was cut short due to inclement weather. However, three Texans got their shot in singles matches. 

Ishii defeated Texas State's Charlotte Roesch 6-2 7-6 (0). Closing out the tournament for the Texans, Lafitte-Valls found success against Texas State's Avery Arant in a three-set match 4-6, 6-2, 10-2. 

The Texans will head to Abilene next weekend for the ACU Invite starting on Friday.