TROY ATHLETICS
MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS
Men’s Tennis The Trojans posted a 20-4 overall record, the best record in the Sun Belt by five matches, and earned their first 20-win season since 2015. Troy won 16 of its first 17 matches of the 2021 season and earned a season-best 10-match winning streak from Feb. 14 through March 20, the longest winning streak for Troy since the 2019 season. The Trojans earned a dramatic victory in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with their 4-3 come-from-behind victory over UT Arlington. Troy, who was the No. 2 seed, won four of the six singles matches to earn the match win. The Trojans’ great season was a continuation from the previous two under the direction of third-year head coach Rolando Vargas. Under Vargas’ direction, Troy has improved each year leading to the teams 48-16 record since he took over the program. Freshman Carles Anton found himself ranked 20th in the ITA Southern Region Rankings after going 16-3 on the year. Women’s Tennis Despite dealing with an ever-changing schedule due to COVID-19, the Trojans posted an 8-11 overall record highlighted by its strong play at home where they went 5-3 on the year. Troy’s lone senior, Matea Mihaljevic, ended her great career in style earning Second Team All-Sun Belt Singles honors. It was Mihaljevic’s second career All-Sun Belt singles honor after also winning the award back in 2019. She earned her second team honor after going 7-9 between the fall and spring seasons and 5-8 in dual matches. She played all 13 of the matches on the top court. Troy earned a first round victory in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament with its 4-0 shutout of Arkansas State. The win advanced the Trojans to the quarterfinals. Anastasiia Khrustaleva led the Trojans in singles wins with 10, eight of which came in dual match play. On court six, Khrustaleva went 6-3 to tie for the most wins on the court in the Sun Belt. The top doubles team for the Trojans in 2021 was the duo of Shevita Aulana and Matea Mihaljevic. The pair teamed up to post a 10-6 overall record and an 8-5 dual match record with all eight wins coming on court three. They ended the year on a six-match winning streak.
