Wayne State University Athletics

Zack Belsky/WSU Athletics

WSU was ranked 22nd nationally after the squad made its third consecutive NCAA Quarterfinals.

Women's Tennis 6/13/2025 12:00:00 PM Henry Coyle, Sports Information Graduate Assistant

Women's Tennis Team and Individuals Ranked in Final ITA Rankings

DETROIT -- The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) released its final Division 2 National and Regional Rankings on Thursday, May 29, with the Wayne State University women's tennis squad appearing on both. The Green and Gold finished first in the Midwest Region and 22nd nationally despite reaching the national quarterfinals for the third consecutive campaign.

In singles competition, graduate student Anais Ruyssen (Nantes, France / Enfants-Nantais [Keiser]) and junior Malak Arafat (Alexandria, Egypt / Lycée Français d'Alexandrie) both received rankings in the Midwest with Ruyssen tabbed as the No. 10 singles player in the region and Arafat ranked 14th. Nationally, junior Martyna Szpakowska (Gdansk, Poland / Sopocka Akademia Tenisowa) wrapped the season as the No. 69-ranked singles player. Ruyssen was named the ITA Midwest Senior Player of the Year prior the the NCAA Round of 16, which is awarded to the top senior or graduate student in each of the eight regions.

On the doubles side, the paring of Arafat and Szpakowska was ranked second in the Midwest and 21st Nationally, while the duo of Ruyssen and Dea Gorgidze (Tbilisi, Georgia Tbilisi Public School N145 [Western Michigan]) was pegged as the No. 5-ranked doubles team in the region and No. 31 nationally. Arafat and Szpakowska posted a 13-3 overall record while Ruyssen and Gogidze earned a 22-9 mark.

The Warriors tallied a 14-5 overall ledger during the 2024-25 campaign that included an 8-0 mark within the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), a 12-1 record in the Midwest Region, a GLIAC Regular Season title, a Midwest Region title, and an appearance in the national quarterfinals.

WSU faced seven teams that are on the final ITA Ranking as the squad competed against Barry (first / national champion), Nova Southeastern (second / national runner-up), Midwestern State (third), Dallas Baptist (12th), Findlay (19th), Grand Valley State (28th), and Tiffin (35th). Wayne State collected victories over DBU (4-1), UF (4-3), GVSU (5-2), and TU (4-3).

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Players Mentioned

Malak Arafat: 5' 11"; Junior

Dea Gorgidze: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

Anais Ruyssen: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Martyna Szpakowska: 5' 8"; Junior

Players Mentioned

Malak Arafat
: 5' 11"; Junior

Dea Gorgidze
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Junior

Anais Ruyssen
: 5' 9"; Graduate Student

Martyna Szpakowska
: 5' 8"; Junior