University of North Carolina Athletics
Friday, May 15
Athens, Ga.
7 p.m.
North Carolina
3
vs
4
Texas A&M
Women’s Tennis Falls In Elite Eight To Texas A&M, 4-3
May 16, 2026 | Women's Tennis
ATHENS, Ga. – No. 5 Carolina women's tennis battled no. 4 Texas A&M in the NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals Friday night in Athens, Ga. The top-5 matchup went down to the wire, resulting in a 4-3 loss for the Tar Heels.
In doubles, Carolina got off to a strong start on court three. Partners Tatum Evans and Oby Kajuru topped the Aggies' duo 6-2. Texas A&M went on to take the match on court two leaving doubles all square at 1-1. No. 9 Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton took an early lead in their respective match before no. 11 Lucciana Perez and Mia Kupres pushed to even the score at six all. In the tiebreak, the Tar Heels raced to a 7-1 win clinching the doubles point for Carolina.
No. 18 Oby Kajuru kept the momentum rolling with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win on court two over no. 50 Mia Kupres.
On court one, the top two players in the nation battled it out. No. 2 Reese Brantmeier eventually fell to no. 1 Lucciana Perry in straight sets.
Texas A&M evened the score with another straight set win on court three.
No. 116 Maddy Zampardo dropped a close first set, 6-4, in her match against no. 106 Lexington Reed. Zampardo continued to fight gaining the lead in the second set. Despite the early momentum in the second, Reed stormed back to claim the match in extra points, 7-5, to give the Aggies an edge at 3-2.
Theadora Rabman opened the match on court six with a huge 6-3 win in the first set. Her opponent worked her way back in to claim the second forcing a deciding third set. With her back against the wall, Rabman took the third set to keep Carolina alive in the match, 3-3.
On court five, Anna Frey found herself in an all-out battle to decide the match. The freshman fell in a tight first set, 7-5. Frey then quickly found herself down in the second set. She continued to grind swing after swing to force extra points. Frey continued her run in the second to win 7-5. Both players continued to trade big swings and huge points before finding themselves in a tiebreaker during the third. After going the distance, Frey eventually fell 7-5 in the tiebreak.
Results
Doubles
No. 9 Brantmeier/Hamilton (UNC) def. no. 11 Perez/Kupres (Texas A&M) 7-6 (1)
No. 35 Martinez/Amarlei (Texas A&M) def. Zampardo/Maltby (UNC) 6-4
Evans/Kajuru (UNC) def. Smetannikov/Reed (Texas A&M) 6-2
Singles
No. 1 Lucciana Perez (Texas A&M) def. no. 2 Reese Brantmeier (UNC) 6-3, 6-1
No. 18 Oby Kajuru (UNC) def. no. 50 Mia Kupres (Texas A&M) 6-2, 6-2
No. 71 Ilinca Amariei (Texas A&M) def. no. 42 Tatum Evans (UNC) 6-3, 6-2
No. 106 Lexington Reed (Texas A&M) def. no. 116 Maddy Zampardo (UNC) 6-4, 7-5
Violeta Martinez (Texas A&M) def. Anna Frey (UNC) 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (5)
Theadora Rabman (UNC) def. Daria Smetannikov (Texas A&M) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
In doubles, Carolina got off to a strong start on court three. Partners Tatum Evans and Oby Kajuru topped the Aggies' duo 6-2. Texas A&M went on to take the match on court two leaving doubles all square at 1-1. No. 9 Reese Brantmeier and Alanis Hamilton took an early lead in their respective match before no. 11 Lucciana Perez and Mia Kupres pushed to even the score at six all. In the tiebreak, the Tar Heels raced to a 7-1 win clinching the doubles point for Carolina.
No. 18 Oby Kajuru kept the momentum rolling with a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win on court two over no. 50 Mia Kupres.
On court one, the top two players in the nation battled it out. No. 2 Reese Brantmeier eventually fell to no. 1 Lucciana Perry in straight sets.
Texas A&M evened the score with another straight set win on court three.
No. 116 Maddy Zampardo dropped a close first set, 6-4, in her match against no. 106 Lexington Reed. Zampardo continued to fight gaining the lead in the second set. Despite the early momentum in the second, Reed stormed back to claim the match in extra points, 7-5, to give the Aggies an edge at 3-2.
Theadora Rabman opened the match on court six with a huge 6-3 win in the first set. Her opponent worked her way back in to claim the second forcing a deciding third set. With her back against the wall, Rabman took the third set to keep Carolina alive in the match, 3-3.
On court five, Anna Frey found herself in an all-out battle to decide the match. The freshman fell in a tight first set, 7-5. Frey then quickly found herself down in the second set. She continued to grind swing after swing to force extra points. Frey continued her run in the second to win 7-5. Both players continued to trade big swings and huge points before finding themselves in a tiebreaker during the third. After going the distance, Frey eventually fell 7-5 in the tiebreak.
Results
Doubles
No. 9 Brantmeier/Hamilton (UNC) def. no. 11 Perez/Kupres (Texas A&M) 7-6 (1)
No. 35 Martinez/Amarlei (Texas A&M) def. Zampardo/Maltby (UNC) 6-4
Evans/Kajuru (UNC) def. Smetannikov/Reed (Texas A&M) 6-2
Singles
No. 1 Lucciana Perez (Texas A&M) def. no. 2 Reese Brantmeier (UNC) 6-3, 6-1
No. 18 Oby Kajuru (UNC) def. no. 50 Mia Kupres (Texas A&M) 6-2, 6-2
No. 71 Ilinca Amariei (Texas A&M) def. no. 42 Tatum Evans (UNC) 6-3, 6-2
No. 106 Lexington Reed (Texas A&M) def. no. 116 Maddy Zampardo (UNC) 6-4, 7-5
Violeta Martinez (Texas A&M) def. Anna Frey (UNC) 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (5)
Theadora Rabman (UNC) def. Daria Smetannikov (Texas A&M) 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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