TYLER, Texas – The Angelo State women's tennis team competed at the 2026 ITA Division II South Central Regional Championship, hosted by UT Tyler, with the Rambelles represented in both singles and doubles competition. Angelo State entered the tournament following a 22-4 overall record during the 2025-26 season, bringing an experienced roster into one of the region's premier fall tournaments.
The Rambelles featured three seeded singles competitors, including Vasilissa Kupriianova as the No. 2 seed, Margaux Rene as the No. 3 seed and Danaiya Amangazhiyeva as the No. 11 seed. In doubles, Rene and Benedetta Raggiotti earned the tournament's No. 1 seed, while Sasa Felixova and Amangazhiyeva entered as the No. 3 seed.
Singles Competition
Sasa Felixova Battles in Opening Round
Felixova opened singles competition against No. 9-seeded Emilia Nowak of UT Dallas. Felixova put together a competitive performance, pushing the opening set to a tiebreaker before dropping the set 7-6 (7-0). She continued battling in the second set but ultimately fell 7-5, ending her run in the main singles draw.
Felixova's opening match featured two closely contested sets, with the first set requiring a tiebreaker and the second remaining competitive through the final games.
Jade Bestagno Competes in Consolation Draw
Bestagno faced No. 7-seeded Camila Garcia of Midwestern State in the opening round of singles competition. Bestagno fell 6-1, 6-1, moving into the consolation bracket.
In the consolation draw, Bestagno matched up against Gianna Graci of UT Dallas. Graci won the first set 6-1 before closing out the match with a 6-4 second-set victory. Bestagno improved her game total in the second set, but the result ended her singles run at the regional tournament.
Benedetta Raggiotti Advances Before Being Eliminated
Raggiotti entered the regional championship as part of Angelo State's experienced singles group and faced No. 10-seeded Victoria Vieten of Midwestern State in the second round.
Raggiotti fell 6-2, 6-2, bringing her main-draw singles run to an end. Vieten won both sets by the same score, advancing past Raggiotti in straight sets.
Margaux Rene and Vasilissa Kupriianova Leads Angelo State's Seeded Singles Group
Rene entered the tournament as the No. 3 seed after a strong 2025-26 campaign. Her seeding placed her among the leading contenders in the regional singles draw as she pursued a deep tournament run.
Rene advanced to the quarterfinal stage, where she was scheduled to face No. 7-seeded Camila Garcia of Midwestern State. Rene would fall to Garica Morales 6-2, 6-4
Kupriianova entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed the highest seed for The Rambelles in singles play. Kupriianova would fall to Andrea De Bernardo in the Quarterfinals 6-4, 7-6(6-4).
Danaiya Amangazhiyeva would be named the No. 11 seed
Amangazhiyeva would be named the No.11 seed after her strong ending to the 2025-2026 season. She would fall to Isabella Olsson 3-6, 7-5, 10-8 in the round of 32.
Doubles Competition
Rambelles Enter Doubles Draw With Two Seeded Pairings
Angelo State entered doubles competition with two seeded teams, giving the Rambelles multiple opportunities to pursue a regional title.
Rene and Raggiotti earned the No. 1 seed in the doubles draw. The pairing entered the tournament as Angelo State's highest-seeded doubles team. The pairing would fall to the No. 8 seed pairing of Selina Wu and Madalyn Smelley 8-6 to knock out the No.1 seed in the tournament.
Felixova and Amangazhiyeva earned the No. 3 seed, providing Angelo State with a second highly seeded pairing. The pairing would fall to the UT Tyler pair of Maria Antonio Ortega and Yona Bancarel 8-7(7-5) to knock out the last remaining Rambelles double team.
The Rambelles will await to see if they get an at large bid to the ITA Singles and Double National Championships.
