{"id":256177,"date":"2026-04-18T22:22:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T22:22:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/256177\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T22:22:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T22:22:08","slug":"aggies-exit-sec-championship-in-semifinal-round-texas-am-athletics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/256177\/","title":{"rendered":"Aggies Exit SEC Championship in Semifinal Round – Texas A&M Athletics"},"content":{"rendered":"

NORMAN \u2013 The No. 2 Texas A&M women’s tennis team dropped a 4-1 decision to the No. 3 Auburn Tigers in Saturday’s SEC Championship semifinal action at Oklahoma’s Headington Family Tennis Center.
\n\u00a0
\nAfter fighting off a handful of match points, Violeta Martinez<\/a> succumbed to No. 55 Ashton Bowers attack on court 5, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 as Auburn (31-3) picked up the win. After an impressive showing in the second set to pull even, Martinez fell behind 5-0 in the decisive stanza, before clawing her way back, claiming three straight games.
\n\u00a0
\nNo. 111 Daria Smetannikov<\/a> earned the lone point of the match for Texas A&M (22-5). She topped No. 64 Ava Esposito, 6-4, 6-1 on court 6 less than a minute after Auburn claimed a 3-0 advantage.
\n\u00a0
\nThe first singles win went to the Tigers on court 3. No. 70 Angella Okutyoyi was a 6-3, 6-1 winner over No. 62 Ilinca Amariei<\/a>. Merna Refaat topped No. 123 Lexington Reed<\/a>, 6-2, 6-4, on court 4 to put Auburn one point from advancing to the title match.
\n\u00a0

\nThe Aggies let the doubles point slip away. Texas A&M got the upper hand early when Reed\/Smetannikov made quick work of Bowers\/Ekaterina Khairutdinova on court 3, 6-1. Auburn knotted the doubles with No. 2 DJ Bennett\/Esposito topping No. 15 Mia Kupres<\/a>\/Lucciana Perez<\/a> on court 1, 6-4. The Aggies’ No. 47 Amariei\/Martinez led on court 2, 5-2, but No. 18 Okutoyi\/Refaat won five straight games to take the point.
\n\u00a0
\nThe first two courts were embroiled in battle when the contest halted. No. 1 Perez nosed ahead of No. 23 Bennett on the show court, 6-2, 6-7(3), 2-0. No. 41 Kupres and No. 28 Khairutdinova were locked in a stalemate, 4-6, 7-6(6), and headed to a third.
\n\u00a0
\nUP NEXT…
\nThe Aggies learn their postseason assignment during the NCAA Division I Women’s Championship Selection Show Monday April 27 at 4:30 p.m.
\n\u00a0
\nTEXAS A&M QUOTES
\nHead Coach Mark Weaver<\/a>
\nOn what made the difference in Saturday’s match…
\n“I think the doubles went a long way. We played a really good doubles point. We had doubles match points at 5-2 and 5-4 and couldn’t finish. I give Auburn the credit. I didn’t think we necessarily did anything wrong in the doubles, they just kind of took it from us in the big points. In singles we fought very hard, but we just dug ourselves in too big of a hole. We fought back, but unfortunately Auburn was a little too good for us today. There were definitely some tough conditions out there. It was a little disappointing for such a big match to be played in such rough conditions, but at the end of the day it was the same for both sides. Auburn was just too good for us today.”
\n\u00a0
\n#3 Auburn 4, #2 Texas A&M 1
\nSEC Championship – Semifinal
\nHeadington Family Tennis Center \u2013 Norman, Oklahoma
\n\u00a0
\nSINGLES
\n#1 Lucciana Perez<\/a> (A&M) vs. \u00a0#23 DJ Bennett (AU) \u2013 6-2, 6-7(3), 2-0, unfinished
\n#41 Mia Kupres<\/a> (A&M) vs. #28 Ekaterina Khairutdinova (AU) \u2013 4-6, 7-6(6), unfinished
\n#70 Angella Okutoyi (AU) def. #62 Ilinca Amariei<\/a> (A&M) \u2013 6-3, 6-1
\nMerna Refaat (AU) def. #123 Lexington Reed<\/a> (A&M) \u2013 6-2, 6-4
\n#55 Ashton Bowers (AU) def. Violeta Martinez<\/a> (A&M) \u2013 6-3, 2-6, 6-3
\n#111 Daria Smetannikov<\/a> (A&M) def. #64 Ava Esposito (AU) \u2013 6-4, 6-1
\nOrder \u2013 3,4,6,5
\n\u00a0
\nDOUBLES

\n#2 Bennett\/Esposito (AU) def. #15 Perez\/Kupres (A&M) \u00a0\u2013 6-4

\n#18 Okutoyi\/Refaat (AU) def. #47 Martinez\/Amariei (A&M) \u2013 7-5

\nReed\/Smetannikov (A&M) vs. Bowers\/Khairutdinova (AU) \u2013 6-1
\nOrder \u2013 3,1,2
\n\u00a0
\nFOLLOW THE AGGIES
\nVisit\u00a012thman.com<\/a>\u00a0for more information on Texas A&M women’s tennis. Fans can keep up to date with the A&M women’s tennis team on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>, and on X by following\u00a0@AggieWTEN<\/a>.
\n\u00a0