RICHARDSON, Texas (March 28, 2026) – Starting the heart of conference play, the UT Permian Basin women's tennis team could not keep its hot streak going and instead fell 4-3 in its first-ever matchup against The University of Texas at Dallas on Saturday at the UTD Tennis Complex.

UTPB won the doubles point after winning by just two games at both No. 1 and No. 3 doubles.

Dinethya Dharmaratne and Sophia Crosby defeated Reika Nagai and Elsha Valluru 6-4, improving to 3-0 together at No. 3 doubles.

Then in the final doubles match to decide who would get the first point, Sophia Rashid and Fanny Bergstrom came back from down 5-2 to win 7-5 over Presley Churchman and Sheryl Gerald at No. 1 doubles.

Dharmaratne then gave UTPB a 2-1 lead with an easy 6-0, 6-2 win over Nagai at No. 2 singles.

However, Bergstrom would fall by two games in each set, 6-4, 7-5, against Katia Robinson at No. 1 singles and Mattea Bowe fell in a three-set comeback by Gerald, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 4 singles, putting the Comets in front by a score of 3-2.

The clinching match for UT Dallas came at No. 5 singles as Alyssa Glasgow won the first set but fell in a three-set comeback win by Namrata Makhija. Makhija would defeat Glasgow 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 to seal the match.
 
Results:
Doubles

• #1 – Sophia Rashid/Fanny Bergstrom (UTPB) def. Presley Churchman/Sheryl Gerald (UTD) 7-5
• #2 – Namrata Makhija/Katia Robinson (UTD) def. Mattea Bowe/Paige Sitanggang (UTPB) 6-1
• #3 – Dinethya Dharmaratne/Sophia Crosby (UTPB) def. Reika Nagai/Elsha Valluru (UTD) 6-4
• Order of Finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles

• #1 – Katia Robinson (UTD) def. Fanny Bergstrom (UTPB) 6-4, 7-5
• #2 – Dinethya Dharmaratne (UTPB) def. Reika Nagai (UTD) 6-0, 6-2
• #3 – Presley Churchman (UTD) def. Sophia Rashid (UTPB) 6-4, 6-2
• #4 – Sheryl Gerald (UTD) def. Mattea Bowe (UTPB) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1
• #5 – Namrata Makhija (UTD) def. Alyssa Glasgow (UTPB) 5-7, 6-1, 6-4
• #6 – Paige Sitanggang (UTPB) def. Kendall Curley (UTD) 6-3, 7-5
• Order of Finish: 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6

Coach's Quote:

• Words from Coach Chris Tolson: "The women played some great doubles. Fanny and Sophia had a great comeback at No. 1 doubles, being down 5-2 and then winning five straight games to clinch the dubs point. They started playing a lot more aggressive and the other team had no answers. In singles, Dinethya played well, dominating the first set. Overall, today's match was exciting. Our ladies competed well and I am extremely proud of them for their effort. Just unfortunate we came up a bit short."

 
Team Records:

• UTPB sees its four-match winning streak come to an end as the Falcons fall to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in the Lone Star Conference.
• UT Dallas (4-7 overall, 1-1 LSC) earns its first-ever Lone Star Conference victory.

Next Up: UTPB remains on the road to finish off its three-match road trip, this time playing against The University of Texas at Tyler. The women's match will see the Falcons battle against the No. 27 nationally-ranked Patriots (starting at 11 a.m.).