No. 18 Texas Women’s Tennis Rolls Past Iowa, 6-1, in Big Ten Road Opener
Texas Women’s Tennis didn’t just notch its first win of the 2026 season on Friday - it did so with a commanding performance in unfamiliar territory. In their first-ever road matchup against Iowa, the No. 18 Longhorns took control early and never looked back, cruising to a 6-1 victory in Iowa City.
This was more than just a bounce-back win. It was a statement.
Doubles: Texas Overcomes Early Setback
The afternoon began with a stumble at No. 1 doubles, where Iowa’s Daianne Hayashida and Mia Mack overwhelmed Texas’ Christasha McNeil and Salma Drugdova, 6-1. The Longhorns actually took the opening game, but Iowa responded with six straight - a quick reminder that road matches don’t come with any freebies.
But Texas regrouped fast.
At No. 2, Carmen Herea and freshman Elizabeth Ionescu steadied the ship.
After falling behind 2-1, they broke back on a crucial deuce point and never let up, winning 6-3. That shifted the momentum.
Then, at No. 3, Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo and Mathilde Ngijol-Carré sealed the doubles point with a 6-4 win. They grabbed an early break for 2-1 and held serve the rest of the way - a tight, composed performance that gave Texas a 1-0 lead heading into singles.
Singles: Longhorns Dominate the Courts
Once singles play began, Texas wasted no time building on its advantage. Sophomore Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo set the tone with a clinical 6-1, 6-1 win over Nikita Vishwase at No.
- She broke serve in the opening game of both sets and never let up, using a mix of consistency and pressure to keep Vishwase on her heels.
From there, the floodgates opened.
At No. 1, Carmen Herea - ranked No. 2 nationally - shook off a slow start to dismantle Hayashida.
After falling behind 3-0, Herea flipped the switch, winning 12 of the next 13 games. Her 6-4, 6-0 win was a masterclass in adjustments and mental toughness, especially on the deuce points, where she went 3-for-3 in the second set.
Freshman Elizabeth Ionescu then delivered the clincher at No. 4 - her first collegiate singles win. She showed poise well beyond her years, taking down Pia Kranholdt 6-3, 6-1. Ionescu grabbed early breaks in both sets and never allowed Kranholdt to settle in.
With the match already decided, Texas kept its foot on the gas.
Drugdova followed with a 6-2, 6-4 win at No. 6, using a late push to fend off a second-set rally from Sally Xu. After Xu tied things up at 4-4, Drugdova dug in and closed it out with two straight games.
Iowa’s lone bright spot came at No. 2, where Mia Mack outlasted Eszter Meri in a three-set battle, 6-0, 1-6, 6-1. It was a rollercoaster of a match - Mack dominated the first set, Meri responded with a five-game run in the second, but Mack regrouped in the third to seal the win.
Still, Texas had the final word.
At No. 3, McNeil - another freshman - capped the day with a gritty 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win over Emma Tothová.
It marked McNeil’s first dual match singles victory, and she had to earn every bit of it. After dropping the second set and falling behind in the third, she battled back to close it out in a tight finish.
What This Win Means
This wasn’t just a win - it was a showcase of depth, resilience, and promise. Texas got contributions across the board: veterans like Herea and Anazagasty-Pursoo did their part, while freshmen like Ionescu and McNeil delivered in big moments.
It also marked a successful start to a two-match Big Ten road swing, with the Longhorns now heading to Madison for their first-ever road meeting with Wisconsin on Sunday.
If Friday’s performance is any indication, Texas is starting to find its rhythm - and that’s bad news for the rest of the field.
Match Summary: No. 18 Texas 6, Iowa 1
Singles - Order of Finish: 5, 1, 4, 6, 2, 3
- No. 1: Carmen Herea (TEX) def.
Daianne Hayashida (IOWA) - 6-4, 6-0
- No.
2: Mia Mack (IOWA) def. Eszter Meri (TEX) - 6-0, 1-6, 6-1
- No. 3: Christasha McNeil (TEX) def.
Emma Tothová (IOWA) - 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
- No.
4: Elizabeth Ionescu (TEX) def. Pia Kranholdt (IOWA) - 6-3, 6-1
- No. 5: Ariana Anazagasty-Pursoo (TEX) def.
Nikita Vishwase (IOWA) - 6-1, 6-1
- No.
6: Salma Drugdova (TEX) def. Sally Xu (IOWA) - 6-2, 6-4
Doubles - Order of Finish: 1, 2, 3
- No. 1: Hayashida/Mack (IOWA) def.
McNeil/Drugdova (TEX) - 6-1
- No.
2: Herea/Ionescu (TEX) def. Kranholdt/Tothová (IOWA) - 6-3
- No. 3: Anazagasty-Pursoo/Ngijol-Carré (TEX) def.
Bex/Vishwase (IOWA) - 6-4
Up Next: Texas heads to Wisconsin for a Sunday showdown with the Badgers. First serve is set for 12 p.m. CT.