Wayne State University Athletics

Women's Tennis 3/6/2025 11:18:00 AM Henry Coyle, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Women's Tennis to Play Three Matches During Spring Break Trip to Florida

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's tennis team will play three matches over its Spring Break trip to Florida. The Warriors are set to face Keiser University (March 8), Barry University (March 9), and Nova Southeastern University (March 11).

LAST TIME OUT
The Green and Gold return after earning a 5-2 victory at Hillsdale. Wayne State claimed the doubles point by winning two of the three matches. In singles play, Anais Ruyssen (Nantes, France / Enfants-Nantais [Keiser]), Malak Arafat (Alexandria, Egypt / Lycée Français d'Alexandrie), Dea Gorgidze (Tbilisi, Georgia / Tbilisi Public School N145 [Western Michigan]), and Shanice Weekes (London, England / Fortismere S.S.) each topped their respective opponents to secure the win for WSU.

KEISER
The Warriors will first compete in a neutral-site contest against Keiser on Saturday, March 8 at the Buccaneer Tennis Center. Winners of two straight, the Seahawks hold a 6-2 record and appear as the No. 1-ranked National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) squad according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). This meeting will be the first between the teams since the 2018-19 season when WSU fell to Keiser 7-0.

KU is led by Daniel Finn who is in his 10th season as the head coach. In his time at the helm, Finn has led the Seahawks to a 165-45 mark that includes six consecutive trips to the NAIA National Championship. Finn serves as the head coach of the men's tennis team as well, helping them to three NAIA National Championship appearances.

BARRY
Wayne State's next contest will be at Barry on Sunday, March 9. Barry is currently the No. 3-ranked team in Division II according to the ITA. The Buccaneers have won their past six matches and are 9-1 on the season thus far. In their sole match against each other during the 2019-20 campaign, BU triumphed 7-0.

Barry is led by long-time head coach Avi Kigel. Kigel has helped the Buccaneers to a 390-30 mark that includes an NCAA-record eight National Championships (2011, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023). Along with his role at the helm of the women's team, Kigel serves as the Director of Tennis, overseeing both the men's and women's squads.

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN
The Green and Gold will play their final match against Nova Southeastern on Tuesday, March 11 at the NSU Tennis Complex at Rolling Hills. Nova Southeastern is the No. 15-ranked team in Division II according to the most recent ITA Poll. Ahead of their meeting with the University of West Alabama and Auburn University at Montgomery, the Sharks own a perfect 8-0 record. Wayne State has faced NSU five times dating back to the 2018-19 season, and has fallen each time.

Doug Neagle is in his ninth year as the head coach of the Nova Southeastern women's tennis team. While at the helm, the Sharks have a 148-45 mark including last year's Division II National Championship.

ITA RANKINGS UPDATE
As a squad, WSU comes in as the No. 23-ranked team in Division II. In singles play, Maryna Szpakowska (Gdansk, Poland / Sopocka Akademia Tenisowa) (#19), Ruyssen (#20), and Arafat (#57) all appear, while the duos of Gorgidze and Ruyssen (#4), Arafat and Szpakowska (#10), and Shantala Uzcategui (Hoyo de La Puerta, Venezuela / Unidad Educativa Colegio Madre Matilde [Walsh]) and Ruyssen (#15) are all represented on the doubles ranking.

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Players Mentioned

Malak Arafat: 5' 11"; Junior

Dea Gorgidze: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

Anais Ruyssen: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Shantala Uzcategui: 5' 3"; Redshirt Junior

Shanice Weekes: 5' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Malak Arafat
: 5' 11"; Junior

Dea Gorgidze
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

Anais Ruyssen
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Shantala Uzcategui
: 5' 3"; Redshirt Junior

Shanice Weekes
: 5' 4"; Junior