Arkansas State Women's Tennis Wins First Title in History

For the first time in program history, Arkansas State's women's tennis team hoisted a championship trophy, and they did it in style.

The Red Wolves defeated North Alabama 4-2 on Thursday morning in Rome, Georgia, to win the 2026 UTR Sports NIT Championship. The victory marked the team's first postseason tournament title ever and capped a remarkable 16-9 season, their best record since 2002.

Sophomore Carla Muro Castellvi emerged as the tournament's MVP, winning all three of her singles matches without dropping a set. She also contributed to a doubles victory, finishing the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record across both categories.

Arkansas State set the tone early by claiming the doubles point. Hanmare McAslin and Sun Belt Player to Watch Meghna Arun Kumar won 6-4 on court three, while Sarah Millard and Anna Grigoreva secured a 6-3 victory on court two to give the Red Wolves a 1-0 lead.

Muro Castellvi extended the advantage to 2-0 with a dominant 6-0, 7-6 performance on court three. After North Alabama fought back to narrow the score to 3-2, Cvanciger delivered the clinching point with a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 triumph on court two.

Why This Inspires

This championship represents more than just a trophy. Arkansas State has posted 29 wins over the past two seasons, the most in a two-year span since the 1999-2000 campaigns. The team has reached 16-plus wins only seven times in program history, making this achievement even more remarkable.

The Red Wolves proved that patience and persistence pay off. After decades of building and developing, the program finally broke through on the biggest stage, creating a moment current and future players will celebrate for years to come.

Sometimes the best stories aren't about instant success but about programs that keep working, keep believing, and finally see their dreams realized.