TYLER, Texas (March 29, 2026) – The University of Texas Permian Basin women's tennis team took on a top-30 team in NCAA Division II and fell 7-0 against No. 27 nationally-ranked The University of Texas at Tyler on Sunday at the Summers Tennis Center.
UTPB lost all three doubles matches, including a 6-1 defeat by
Sophia Rashid and
Fanny Bergstrom (No. 1 doubles) against the No. 17 nationally-ranked doubles pair of Yona Bancarel and Natalia Gorzny. Bancarel and Gorzny were named Second-Team All-Lone Star Conference in doubles in 2025, and this past Fall, became the first pair to represent UT Tyler at the ITA Cup in the Patriots' Division II era.
Peyton Jones and
Sophia Crosby battled close at No. 3 doubles, but in the end fell 7-5 vs. Sabrina Pugh and Emily Ryan.
After UT Tyler had clinched the match, Bergstrom fell 6-1, 6-2 against 2025 First-Team All-LSC singles selection and No. 11 nationally-ranked Bancarel at No. 1 singles.
Dinethya Dharmaratne fell by just two games in her second set, falling 6-0, 6-4 vs. 2025 Second-Team All-LSC singles selection Gorzny at No. 2 singles.
At No. 3 singles, Rashid won her first set before ultimately falling in a third-set super tiebreaker, 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5), against Maria Antonio Ortega.
UTPB Head Coach
Chris Tolson said, "Today, Peyton and Sophia played three doubles and they pushed their opponents to 4-6. They played fantastic. In singles, Sophia competed well, pushing her opponent to a third set. Overall, everyone is improving. It is just tough being such a young team and going through the growing pains, but the future is bright."
Results:
Doubles
Singles
- #1 – No. 11 Yona Bancarel (UT Tyler) def. Fanny Bergstrom (UTPB) 6-1, 6-2
- #2 – Natalia Gorzny (UT Tyler) def. Dinethya Dharmaratne (UTPB) 6-0, 6-4
- #3 – Maria Antonio Ortega (UT Tyler) def. Sophia Rashid (UTPB) 5-7, 6-1, 1-0 (10-5)
- #4 – Paula Castellanos (UT Tyler) def. Mattea Bowe (UTPB) 6-0, 6-2
- #5 – Claudia Di Leonardo (UT Tyler) def. Paige Sitanggang (UTPB) 6-1, 6-0
- #6 – Luisa Moraes (UT Tyler) def. Alyssa Glasgow (UTPB) 6-1, 6-2
- Order of Finish: 5, 6, 4, 1, 2, 3
Team Records:
- UTPB falls to 4-9 overall and 0-3 in the Lone Star Conference while UT Tyler improves to 9-5 and 2-0.
- In 2025, the Patriots enjoyed their best season since joining the Division II ranks. They went 18-10, the most wins for the program since 2016, and punched their ticket to the LSC Tournament Championship match for the first time in program history.
Next Up: The Falcons return to action at Cameron University on Saturday, April 4, in Lawton, Oklahoma (starting at 11 a.m.).
