Granero Boj, Castaño Malnero headline standout season for young Griffon Tennis team

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – In a season where youth dominated, the future looks bright for Missouri Western Women's Tennis, which emerged with a pair of top honors in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), led by a record-setting performance from junior Cristina Granero Boj and a breakout debut from freshman Celia Castaño Malnero.

Granero Boj was named MIAA Player of the Year, becoming the first player in Griffon program history to earn the league’s top individual honor. The junior from Malaga, Spain, turned in a dominant spring at the No. 1 singles spot, finishing 7-2 against conference opponents and notching wins over four nationally ranked players, including No. 13 Fabiana Gamboa of Nebraska Kearney and No. 19 Renske Ubachs of Washburn.

Castaño Malnero, a first-year player from Asturias, Spain, was named MIAA Freshman of the Year after posting a 4-3 singles record in conference play, primarily at the No. 3 spot. She is the second Griffon in as many years to take home freshman honors, showcasing the program's recent youth movement.

The recognition wasn’t over for Missouri Western, as they collected seven All-MIAA honors, including three First Team selections.

Granero Boj also earned First Team All-MIAA honors in doubles, pairing with sophomore Elena Rey Garcia to go 5-2 in league play. The duo's resume included a commanding 6-1 victory over Nebraska Kearney’s Narindra Ranaivo and Tanyaradzwa Midzi, the No. 14-ranked doubles team in the nation.

Sophomore Johanna Priedite added to the Griffons' postseason haul with a Second Team All-MIAA selection in singles after going 5-3 at the No. 2 spot. She also earned Honorable Mention in doubles, sharing that recognition with Castaño Malnero after the pair went 5-2 in conference play, including a 7-6 (10-8) win over Washburn’s No. 32-ranked team.

Despite the program’s 4-12 overall record and 1-8 conference mark, Missouri Western proved more competitive than its record indicated. The Griffons lost three MIAA matches by a 4-3 margin, each against nationally ranked opponents.

In total, Missouri Western collected 22 singles victories and 11 doubles wins in league play this season, impressive numbers for a squad that featured four underclassmen, including three freshmen, and just one senior.