Wayne State University Athletics

Women's Tennis 5/20/2025 2:00:00 PM Henry Coyle, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Women's Tennis Ready to Face Dallas Baptist in NCAA Round of 16

DETROIT -- The No. 11-seeded Wayne State University women's tennis team will face the No. 6-seeded Dallas Baptist University in the NCAA Finals Round of 16 on Wednesday, May 21, at 12:00 PM. The match will be played in Altamonte Springs, Fla. at Sanlando Park.

The contest's winner will meet the victor of the match between No. 3-seeded Midwestern State University and No. 14-seeded Rockhurst University in the National Quarterfinals on Thursday, May 22.

WSU made its fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament this year and has advanced to the NCAA Finals (Sweet Sixteen) for a third straight campaign. In that time, the Warriors have collected an 8-3 mark in NCAA Tournament contests. During the program's first Sweet Sixteen berth in 2014, then junior Yahsha Moore had pushed the No. 2-ranked player in the nation (Aleksandra Filipovski) to a third set in the No. 1 singles position before their match went unfinished as the Green and Gold fell 5-0 to the eventual national champion Armstrong Atlantic State University. Overall, WSU has competed in the NCAA Tournament nine times, advanced to the round of 16 four times, and moved on to the quarterfinals twice.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wayne State women's tennis team topped Tiffin University 4-3 in the final round of the NCAA Midwest Regional to advance to the round of 16. With the match tied 3-3, Martyna Szpakowska (Gdansk, Poland / Sopocka Akademia Tenisowa) lifted the Warriors to victory with an incredible 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 triumph in the No. 6 singles position after trailing 3-1 in the final set.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
DALLAS BAPTIST
DBU collected an impressive 23-4 ledger ahead of the round of 16, that includes the program's first Lone Star Conference (LSC) Tournament title. Following a 4-3 victory over St. Mary's in its section of the South Central Regional, DBU has won its last six contests and seven of its most recent eight matches. On the court, the Patriots are led by sophomore Emily Buchanan who was voted both LSC Women's Tennis Player of the Year and the ITA South Central Region Player to Watch following a perfect 25-0 singles ledger. Andrea Delgado, Madalyn Smelley and Jenna Payne received all-conference nods as well.

At the helm for DBU is Wade Morgan who is in his eighth season with the squad. Morgan garnered ITA South Central Region Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive season and was named the National ITA Coach of the Year after helping the team to its first appearance in the NCAA Round of 16.

MIDWESTERN STATE
The Mustangs enter their round of 16 match against Rockhurst University with a 21-3 overall mark and earned the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Championships. MSU had seven student-athletes receive All-LSC honors, as Anda Ghinga, Jessica Binzari, Sofia Giraldo, Camila Garcia, Hannah Yip, Sydney Williams, and Sarah Mazaraki all garnered all-conference recognition with Ghinga being named Senior of the Year.

Midwestern State is led by Scott Linn who has been named LSC Coach of the Year nine times including five times on the women's side.

ROCKHURST
The Hawks claimed both the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) West Division title and Tournament championship this year while compiling an 18-5 overall record. RU topped the University of Findlay (4-2) and the University of Indianapolis (4-3) in the other section of the NCAA Midwest Regional to advance to the NCAA Championships. Four members of the Rockhurst women's tennis team earned All-GLVC marks as Ella Coleman, Sofia Valdespino, Dani Lentisco, and Zuzanna Szmyd were all named to the all-conference team. Coleman garnered GLVC Player of the Year honors.

Head coach Jamie McDonald is in his fifth campaign with the Hawks and has helped the team to its first NCAA Round of 16 appearance and was named the GLVC Coach of the Year for the his efforts this season.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Martyna Szpakowska: 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Martyna Szpakowska
: 5' 8"; Junior