Wayne State University Athletics

Shane O'Donnell - Tiffin

Women's Tennis 5/16/2024 8:39:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Tennis To Face Washburn In NCAA Finals Round of 16

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's tennis squad (20-5 overall) received the No. 7 seed by the NCAA and will face 10th-seeded Washburn University (20-5 overall) in the opening round of the NCAA Finals on Monday at 1 p.m. All four finals round (First, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final) will be held at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

This will be WSU's third trip to the NCAA Finals. The first came in 2014 as Wayne State had to face eventual national champion Armstrong Atlantic State in the opening round, which was also held at Sanlando Park. The Warriors fell 5-0 (each doubles match counted as one point) to the Pirates. Current interim head coach Yahsha Moore was playing first doubles with Anne Li Briand and No. 1 singles. Moore won the second set 6-2 over the No. 2-ranked player in the nation. Moore's match with Armstrong senior Aleksndra Filipovski ultimately remained unfinished after the Pirates clinched the match victory, but Filipovski entered the NCAA Round of 16 with a 21-1 record at No. 1 singles and was ranked as one of the top three singles players in Division II all year.

A year ago, WSU won its first match at the NCAA Finals claiming a 4-1 triumph over Indiana (Pa.). The Warriors then fell in the quarterfinals, 4-0, to Hawaii Pacific.

PREVIEWING THE WARRIORS
The Warriors have won 12 straight matches since a 4-3 home setback to Tiffin on March 20. Included in those 12 consecutive victories is a 7-0 triumph over Division 1 Oakland University, a 7-0 mark in GLIAC regular-season play, wins over Saginaw Valley State (4-2) and Grand Valley State (4-0) to claim the GLIAC tournament title, as well as NCAA Midwest Regional victories over Ferris State (4-0) and at Tiffin (4-1).

WSU is led by GLIAC Player of the Year Anais Ruyssen. She has won eight of her last 10 matches at No. 1 singles. Ruyssen and first doubles partner Marta Komar are 6-4 in their last 10 matches. Sophomore Malak Arafat has been victorious in her last 11 matches at second singles. In addition, Arafat and second doubles partner Martyna Szpakowska have won their last 10 matches, losing only 26 games in that span.

Senior Marta Komar has compiled a 6-1 mark in her last seven singles matches, primarily at the third flight, while Szpakowska has claimed a victory in her last 10 singles matches (all in straight sets, while losing only 29 games in completed matches). Dea Gorgidze has won her last eight singles matches, mostly at the fifth flight. Gorgidze and doubles partner Justine Beaulieu have won the last three matches since being reunited during the GLIAC Tournament. Beaulieu has won her last eight singles matches dating back to the spring break trip.

Link to Wayne State Stats.

PREVIEWING WASHBURN
The Ichabods are 3-2 in their last five matches with both losses coming to Nebraska-Kearney (4-1 on April 26 and 4-2 on May 4).

WU's Maja Jung was selected as the Central Region Senior Player of the Year by the ITA after leading the Ichabods to their third straight appearance at the NCAA National Championships. She is ranked No. 6 in the nation in singles with a 28-6 overall record overall. Jung is 11-1 against nationally ranked opponents. In doubles she and Lara Schmid are ranked No. 7 in the nation as the pair have compiled a 23-8 record together this season. In all of doubles Jung is 25-8 with a 17-5 mark at the top flight.

Link to Washburn Stats.

SERIES HISTORY
The squads met earlier this year on February 10th in Indianapolis with Washburn claiming a 4-1 win. It was the first meeting in women's tennis between the two institutions in at least 20 years. WU took the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and No. 3, then claimed singles victories at flights 1, 2 and 6. Wayne State's lone point was a straight-set win at No. 3 singles by Malak Arafat.

UP NEXT
The winner of the Wayne State vs. Washburn match on Monday will advance to the national quarterfinals to face the winner of the #2-Nova Southeastern vs. Indiana (Pa.) match at 4 p.m. on Tuesday (May 21st).

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Players Mentioned

Malak Arafat: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Justine Beaulieu: 5' 4"; Freshman

Dea Gorgidze: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

Marta Komar: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Anais Ruyssen: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Martyna Szpakowska: 5' 8"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Malak Arafat
: 5' 11"; Sophomore

Justine Beaulieu
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Dea Gorgidze
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

Marta Komar
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Anais Ruyssen
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Junior

Martyna Szpakowska
: 5' 8"; Sophomore