If Nicole plays, we win it all.

Very unlikely but I'm open to being pleasantly surprised.

Aggie Tennis said:

---

aggiedrjdub said:

---

People are BIG MAD on Twitter hahahaha

---

Yep. I love the tears. Check on the comments here:

Amariei is 23yo with a WTA high ranking of #317.

TAMU’s first day of class was three weeks ago.

What we’ve learned is that you can never be too old or too late to join college tennis. https://t.co/1wK0VmMop6

— John (@JTweetsTennis) February 2, 2026

---

I love that Manny Diaz chimed in. I guarantee you he NEVER did anything like this

bigfoot10s said:

---

Aggie Tennis said:

---

aggiedrjdub said:

---

People are BIG MAD on Twitter hahahaha

---

Yep. I love the tears. Check on the comments here:

Amariei is 23yo with a WTA high ranking of #317.

TAMU’s first day of class was three weeks ago.

What we’ve learned is that you can never be too old or too late to join college tennis. https://t.co/1wK0VmMop6

— John (@JTweetsTennis) February 2, 2026

---

I love that Manny Diaz chimed in. I guarantee you he NEVER did anything like this

---

And like I said on the post, why was no one up in arms over Katrina Scott signing with Tennessee 2 weeks ago? She is currently 312 in the world and has been as high as 149, and has been playing professional tournaments for years, and has 4 singles titles to her name. Career earnings of almost $500k. Not a peep on twitter then.

It's because those tennis guys are all Georgia fans and they can't stand that we will be more competitive now.

Sounds like Ilinca may not be available for indoors. Game time decision.

Thanks for not getting all over me!! It is going to get very interesting now! And will get worse each year.

1. HOWDY ILINCA!
2. Already on the ITA website roster
3. Why didn't parsa break this one?
4. Did Mary stick around to watch yesterday's match or did the team watch her on Saturday?
5. Oh, no! We lost our first away match of the season in california AND a late addition to our team! That has never happenned, has it? What if we don't do well in ITA Indoors? How could we ever have a decent season?

Any advice on how to pronounce Ilinca's last name?

Quail said:

---

I know this is not a popular opinion but I am really disappointed in the way college sports are these days.
Includes all sports.
I don't disagree and think this is a great signing.
However, she is 23 years old and assume she has not been to a class yet. How many years can she play?
I also understand all schools are now doing this so I don't blame Mark one bit!!
Not sure if it matters but there may not be too many American players left!.
Yes, I am old and grouchy and hate what is going on with football and basketball doing the same.

---

We'll be sure and write that down. Maybe stick to other Aggie things other than sports.

I'm sure we would all like to have all or mostly Americans, but let's be real. It is not possible to have a top team at Texas A&M with predominantly Americans on a consistent basis. There just aren't that many top Americans available.

I don't have a problem with age, nor international status. I will admit that I am naive in believing current students learn something while still covering my ears and eyes to anything that says otherwise. Even when I took rocks-for-jocks I learned some things. I hope Salma did in her one semester on campus. I do wish Ilinca had been on campus a few weeks ago, but I had no problem when Carson came back and would have no problem with her doing it again (she did only play three years, y'all!).

At some point we have to admit the irony in many of us rooting so hard for the non-academic achievements of others to which we are academically linked.

fishoutawater said:

---

Any advice on how to pronounce Ilinca's last name?

---

https://www.howtopronounce.com/romanian/amariei
The name Amariei is typically pronounced ah-mah-REE-ay (phonetic: /a.ma.'ri.ej/). It is often broken down phonetically as a + Maria + ei, following a four-syllable structure with the emphasis generally on the third syllable.

I get it! There is always one! I will be cheering as loud as always. Just had an opinion, just not as good as yours!
Will be there when weather warms up!

Great addition and very exciting.

I saw some comments in this thread about Nicole, but any updates. I may have missed it in this thread so apologies if so.

She isn't healthy currently and it looks like she might be out for the season.

All Eyes On Indoors This Weekend 🏆

Matchups and match times are now set for the 2026 ITA Division I Women's National Team Indoor Championship! Action will begin this Friday across both host sites!

🔗 https://t.co/s097ktTZAQ (Read More)#WeAreCollegeTennis | #ITAIndoors pic.twitter.com/ntFGlP9WbQ

— ITA (@ITA_Tennis) February 3, 2026

This seeding is very odd to me.

Auburn as the 1 seed over Georgia. Very odd.

They did get kind of destroyed by UNC, so I can see why. Auburn hasn't really been challenged. I bet they have a rude awakening because of it

Anchorhold said:

---

aggiesherpa said:

---

So it's basically a mini sec tournament

---

---

So, our first 2 matches are guaranteed to be against SEC schools.

And there is a pod on the other side of the bracket that has 3 SEC teams in Georgia, LSU, and Tennessee. Auburn is the only SEC team there without another SEC team in their 4 team mini-bracket.

One group without SEC teams, guaranteeing a non-SEC team in the semifinals.

Yes - the seeding was a bit odd and seemed intentional, but who knows. I think UNC at 1 is probably accurate. I don't understand OU at 2. They did beat a very average and overrated Stanford team that is playing without many of their top girls. I'm sure they are good, but I'm surprised they would have jumped us. Guess it doesn't matter. Didn't really want to play tu first round anyway.

aggiedrjdub said:

---

Yes - the seeding was a bit odd and seemed intentional, but who knows. I think UNC at 1 is probably accurate. I don't understand OU at 2. They did beat a very average and overrated Stanford team that is playing without many of their top girls. I'm sure they are good, but I'm surprised they would have jumped us. Guess it doesn't matter. Didn't really want to play tu first round anyway.

---

Vanderbilt then OU / Texas is probably the best we could have hoped for to make a semi. None will be easy. But Auburn, Georgia, UNC, LSU all much better than OU/Texas/Vanderbilt.

Anyone know if Ilinca will make be playing this weekend?

Quote:

---

New addition Ilinca Amariei will be a "last-minute" decision to play in the event.

---

She has been competing on clay for the past year, and we need her ready at Mitchell in two weeks. Whatever the coaches decide is fine with me.

Anchorhold said:

---

Quote:

---

New addition Ilinca Amariei will be a "last-minute" decision to play in the event.

---

She has been competing on clay for the past year, and we need her ready at Mitchell in two weeks. Whatever the coaches decide is fine with me.

---

I watched two of her matches last night on youtube. She's a solid get; not going to overpower you with a serve, but a really good clay court player. Her backhand is her weapon for sure.

Anchorhold said:

---

Quote:

---

New addition Ilinca Amariei will be a "last-minute" decision to play in the event.

---

She has been competing on clay for the past year, and we need her ready at Mitchell in two weeks. Whatever the coaches decide is fine with me.

---

Makes sense.

I hope we see her. It will be an adjustment but put her out at #3 and start the learning curve immediately.

Anchorhold said:

---

fishoutawater said:

---

Any advice on how to pronounce Ilinca's last name?

---

https://www.howtopronounce.com/romanian/amariei
The name Amariei is typically pronounced ah-mah-REE-ay (phonetic: /a.ma.'ri.ej/). It is often broken down phonetically as a + Maria + ei, following a four-syllable structure with the emphasis generally on the third syllable.

---

Thanks

Match Day !!

I just noticed this morning that Ilinca is already on the roster page.

Tournament press release here ...

https://12thman.com/news/2026/2/5/womens-tennis-match-preview-ita-national-team-indoor-championships