Tarleton State women’s tennis is on the cusp of a breakthrough. For the Texans, the path to the NCAA tournament has never felt this clear—or this close. Guided by head coach Elianne Douglas-Miron in her seventh season, the team enters the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Women’s Tennis Championship as the No. 1 seed, carrying a blend of experience, youthful energy, and an unmistakable sense of purpose.

“We’re really excited,” Douglas-Miron said. “We’ve been here before. We’ve played in the WAC championship a few times now, so we know what to expect. We’ve also seen every team this year that is here at the tournament, so we know who we’re gonna play against. We know the other team well, I think we’re excited, we’re ready, and we’re ready to get things going.”

The Texans open against UT Arlington, a familiar opponent they defeated 4–1 earlier in the season. For Douglas-Miron, the focus isn’t just on the X’s and O’s, but on the intangibles—energy, composure, and trust.

“They’re a very well-coached team,” she said of UTA. “The girls are very competitive. We played them at UT Arlington. It was a really competitive match. The quality of tennis was really high, which was really fun to watch and coach. We are looking for good energy from our side and just making sure that everybody’s taking care of their business on their court while still giving energy to everyone. We’re really excited and it’s gonna be a really high-quality tennis match.”

Building a Championship Mindset

The Texans have swept the WAC weekly awards five times this season, a testament to the depth and consistency that Douglas-Miron has cultivated. At the top of the lineup is Maria Castano, the 2023–24 WAC Freshman of the Year, who has quickly become the team’s anchor at No. 1 singles.

“Maria has had an incredible journey so far,” Douglas-Miron said. “She won the WAC individual championship back in the fall. She has been just a rock-solid tennis player but also a person. She comes to practice, works incredibly hard, she’s in one of the hardest majors at Tarleton. She wants to become an astronaut. She is just an incredible human and a really hard worker. She’s gonna really bring that attitude to our team and she’s the one that leads the charge, brings us forward, and she knows what she has to do and she’s gonna be ready for it on Friday.”

Leadership is equally important, and the Texans have it in senior Emma Perrson, who brings years of experience and a steady presence to the court.

“Emma’s also had an incredible career with us,” Douglas-Miron said. “All of these seniors have really done a lot for us throughout the years. I’m excited to see them play on Friday and just excited for them to finish on a high note and leave it all out on the court. I know they’re playing for each other, they’re playing for this institution, and they’re playing for themselves. I think they really wanna end on a high note, they’re gonna bring a lot of energy to the matches.”

A Global Roster, a Unified Spirit

One of the defining features of this Tarleton team is its international flair. Freshman Aya Ishii, the first Japanese Division I women’s tennis player in program history, has been a revelation at the No. 2 spot.

“Aya’s been really solid for us,” Douglas-Miron said. “She has one of the best records on the team this year. She’s playing at the number 2 spot. Her quality of tennis is really high. She’s a good tennis player, she’s very athletic. She moves really well, she has just been a really hard worker for us and has really pushed, she’s even pushed the upperclassmen to want more out of their tennis, and she’s really focused on her goals and achieving what she wants to do.”

Paired with Ishii in doubles is fellow freshman Marissa Minetti of Finland, another program first. Together, they embody the future of Tarleton tennis while contributing in the present.

“Marissa has had a sister who played college tennis as well, so she actually knew a little bit about college tennis and what you have to do,” Douglas-Miron said. “She’s just a very consistent person. She comes with the same attitude, the same energy every time, and her tennis reflects that, her tennis is consistent. Hardworking, she plays with a lot of passion and physicality, so she has been one of our rock-solid players.”

Senior Ximena Morales adds another layer of experience and poise, especially on a stage she knows well.

“Her tennis has only peaked,” Douglas-Miron said. “We really talked about peaking at the right moment, playing her tennis on her terms, she’s really done that this year. I’m really proud of what she’s accomplished, what all of our seniors have accomplished. She’s gonna be one to watch on Friday.”

Prepared for the Moment

With the championship just two wins away from an NCAA berth, Tarleton is embracing every detail—from the extra practice sessions to the small comforts of playing close to home.

“It is a little bit different here just the way the set the courts are set up compared to back home,” Douglas-Miron said. “The bathrooms are a certain distance away. I mean just those little small things can make a difference during the match. For us to already have played here and know what to expect, we kinda know how long it takes to run from the courts to the bathroom, these small little things can impact a match in the end, so we’re gonna be ready for that.”

The short drive from Stephenville also helped set the tone.

“We actually left a day earlier than normal,” Douglas-Miron said. “We were here yesterday and part of that is just for us to get ourselves up here, hitting one extra time on the court. The girls, they sleep quite a bit. I’m the one that gets to play DJ, which I think they all… I don’t think they love that. They put their headphones in quite a bit. But the two-hour drive for us was great. We got an extra hit in yesterday evening, and now we’re here this morning. The weather is gonna… we’re playing in the morning, so we gotta get adjusted to that, and overall just nice to be close to home.”

Why This Team, Why Now

After years of coming close, Douglas-Miron believes this group has the maturity and motivation to break through.

“We’ve talked a lot about the experiences that we’ve had in the past, especially in the championship tournament and what we’re expecting from all the girls, also what to expect from the other teams,” she said. “I think that really this team is maybe more ready than the other teams before, they know exactly who they’re gonna play. We’ve played all of the teams in the conference this year, so I would say that I think the readiness and the desire to want to win is high and also the girls… we’ve had some heartbreaking moments in the last few years at the conference tournament and I think they’re really motivated to be on the winning side this year.”