TYLER, Texas (February 24, 2025) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's tennis team opened its 2025 season this weekend at Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. After falling 5-2 in its season opener against Harding University on Saturday, February 22, the Falcons earned a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Delta State University on Sunday, February 23. The weekend ended with a 4-0 defeat against No. 19 nationally-ranked Mississippi College on Monday, February 24.

Teodora Vrucan and Tuva Asplund got UTPB's first doubles win of the year with a 6-4 decision over Harding's Sofia Zulim and Ece Boylu at No. 3 singles, but UTPB's lone points against Harding came in the No. 5 and No. 6 singles spots after the Falcons trailed 5-0. Paige Bott defeated Itza Rogel 6-1, 6-1 at No. 5 singles and Dinethya Dharmaratne defeated Zulim 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-3) in a third-set super tiebreaker at No. 6 singles.

The highlight of the weekend was UTPB's 4-3 comeback victory over Delta State. After falling in doubles, UTPB then fell down 3-0 to start singles. Needing four straight wins, it all started with a 7-5, 6-1 victory for Fanny Bergstrom over Yasmina Mayer at No. 2 singles. Dharmaratne followed with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Lara Torres at No. 5 singles and Vrucan defeated Maria Caride in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2, at No. 3 singles. In the winner-take-all match, Sophia Rashid pulled out an awesome 6-1, 6-4 victory over Isabella Llano at No. 6 singles.

In the final match against No. 19 Mississippi College, Bergstrom and Bott fell 6-2 at No. 1 doubles while the closest match in singles was a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 three-set loss by Bott in the No. 4 position.

Combined for the weekend, Dharmaratne was 3-0 in singles (No. 5-6) while Rashid was 2-0 at No. 6 singles and Vrucan was 2-1 at No. 3 singles.
 
Results:
Match #1 – UTPB 2, Harding 5:
Doubles

• #1 – Karli Roux/Alexia Zarate Valdez (HU) def. Fanny Bergstrom/Paige Bott (UTPB) 6-3
• #2 – Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz/Itza Rogel (HU) def. Brooke Runyan/Sophia Rashid (UTPB) 7-6 (7-4)
• #3 – Teodora Vrucan/Tuva Asplund (UTPB) def. Sofia Zulim/Ece Boylu (HU) 6-4

Singles

• #1 – No. 14 Alexia Zarate Valdez (HU) def. Brooke Runyan (UTPB) 6-1, 6-4
• #2 – Karli Roux (HU) def. Fanny Bergstrom (UTPB) 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 1-0 (11-9)
• #3 – Sofia Sarmiento Ruiz (HU) def. Teodora Vrucan (UTPB) 6-0, 6-2
• #4 – Ece Boylu (HU) def. Tuva Asplund (UTPB) 6-4, 7-5
• #5 – Paige Bott (UTPB) def. Itza Rogel (HU) 6-1, 6-1
• #6 – Dinethya Dharmaratne (UTPB) def. Sofia Zulim (HU) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-3)

 
Match #2 – UTPB 4, Delta State 3:
Doubles

• #1 – Elena Palioura/Yasmina Mayer (DSU) def. Fanny Bergstrom/Paige Bott (UTPB) 6-3
• #2 – Angie Moreno/Lara Torres (DSU) def. Brooke Runyan/Tuva Asplund (UTPB) 6-4
• #3 – Dinethya Dharmaratne/Teodora Vrucan (UTPB) vs. Maria Caride/Cameron Jacob (DSU) 5-4, unfinished

Singles

• #1 – Elena Palioura (DSU) def. Brooke Runyan (UTPB) 6-1, 6-4
• #2 – Fanny Bergstrom (UTPB) def. Yasmina Mayer (DSU) 7-5, 6-1
• #3 – Teodora Vrucan (UTPB) def. Maria Caride (DSU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-2
• #4 – Angie Moreno (DSU) def. Tuva Asplund (UTPB) 6-4, 6-3
• #5 – Dinethya Dharmaratne (UTPB) def. Lara Torres (DSU) 7-5, 6-1
• #6 – Sophia Rashid (UTPB) def. Isabella Llano (DSU) 6-1, 6-4

 
Match #3 – UTPB 0, No. 19 Mississippi College 4:
Doubles

• #1 – Ana Julissa De Mata Rodriguez/Emma Roberts (MC) def. Fanny Bergstrom/Paige Bott (UTPB) 6-2
• #2 – Ricio Martinez/Katharina Weber (MC) def. Brooke Runyan/Dinethya Dharmaratne (UTPB) 6-1
• #3 – Tuva Asplund/Teodora Vrucan (UTPB) vs. Alizee Ripolles/Ann Cabot Stockett (MC) 2-5, unfinished

Singles

• #1 – No. 41 Emma Roberts (MC) def. Brooke Runyan (UTPB) 6-3, 6-3
• #2 – Ana Julissa De Mata Rodriguez (MC) def. Fanny Bergstrom (UTPB) 6-4, 6-0
• #3 – Teodora Vrucan (UTPB) vs. Ricio Martinez 2-6, 6-5, unfinished
• #4 – Katharina Weber (MC) def. Paige Bott (UTPB) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
• #5 – Dinethya Dharmaratne (UTPB) vs. Alizee Ripolles (MC) 2-1, unfinished
• #6 – Sophia Rashid (UTPB) vs. Elena Roberts (MC) DNP

 
Team Records:

• UTPB starts its season 1-2.
• Harding moves to 4-5 after going 1-2 on the weekend.
• Delta State starts its season 0-3 after its opening weekend.
• Mississippi College improves to 7-1 after going 2-1 on the weekend and winning its final two matches.
• The other Lone Star Conference teams representing the league this weekend in Tyler were The University of Texas at Tyler and Lubbock Christian University. UT Tyler starts is season 3-0 after winning all three matches during its opening weekend while LCU improves to 6-2 after going 2-1 this weekend.

 
Next Up: UTPB will have two more neutral-court matchups to open up the month of March, taking on Metropolitan State University of Denver on Sunday, March 2, in Lubbock, Texas, followed by No. 18 Southern Arkansas University on Sunday, March 9, in Midlothian, Texas.