Wayne State University Athletics

Romer Santacruz

Rebecca Laynes and Selin Kayakent are returning for their sophomore seasons at WSU.

Women's Tennis 9/17/2026 1:15:00 PM Lyse Bates, Sports Information Post-Graduate Intern

Women's Tennis Opens Fall Campaign at Chargers Invitational

The Warriors will compete Saturday and Sunday in Hillsdale to begin their fall season.

DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's tennis program heads into its first weekend of competition as it travels to Hillsdale, Mich., for the Chargers Fall Invitational, marking the fourth straight year the Warriors have opened their season at Hillsdale. The event begins on Saturday, Sept. 19, and concludes on Sunday, Sept. 20. WSU is set to face host Hillsdale as well as Northwood and Walsh.

"I'm very excited for this upcoming weekend," said fourth-year head coach Yahsha Thompson. "It's our first match and road trip of the year, and that's always a great time for the team to bond. I can't wait to see how everyone competes and starts off the season."

The Warriors are coming off a 2025-2026 season where they posted a 4-3 mark in GLIAC play (8-9 overall) and advanced to the GLIAC semifinals before falling to Grand Valley State. Wayne State returns three of its five All-GLIAC honorees from last season in Justine Beaulieu (Montreal, Que. / Collège de Montréal High School), Selin Kayakent (Bursa, Turkey / Bilfen Anatolian), and Rebecca Laynes (Saginaw, Mich. / Heritage).

WSU also returns redshirt fifth-year senior Dea Gorgidze (Tbillisi, Ga. / Tbilisi Public School N145 [Western Michigan]), who is back after a season-ending injury during the 2025 slate.

"I'm happy to have Dea back. We are working her back into playing and she is so excited to return to competing. She is more focused than ever, so I can't wait to see how her game comes together as she starts getting back to playing," said Thompson.

The squad has four newcomers (three freshmen, one transfer) to bring the roster total to eight. First-year Warriors include freshmen Victoria Fojcik (Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, Germany / Liebfrauenschule Gymnasium School), Jiselle Okoye (London, United Kingdom) and Viola Ranieri (Bardolino, Italy / Educandato Statle Agli Angeli), along with senior transfer Masha Moskaltsova (Moscow, Russia / State Budgetary Education Institution School 1282 [Indiana, Pa.]).

"The newcomers all have great attitudes and work ethics. I am excited to see how that translates to competition," said Thompson.

MATCH UP HISTORY
In the spring of 2026, WSU defeated both Hillsdale (4-3) and Walsh (7-0) in Detroit. Wayne State has not faced off with Northwood since April 2022, where the Timberwolves were victorious 5-2.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will compete in the ITA Midwest Regional Championships beginning Oct. 10 at Grand Valley State.

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Players Mentioned

Justine Beaulieu: 5' 6"; Senior

Victoria Fojcik: 5' 4"; Freshman

Dea Gorgidze: 5' 6"; Redshirt Fifth Year

Selin Kayakent: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Rebecca Laynes: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Masha Moskaltsova: 5' 7"; Senior

Jiselle Okoye: 5' 5"; Freshman

Viola Ranieri: 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Justine Beaulieu
: 5' 6"; Senior

Victoria Fojcik
: 5' 4"; Freshman

Dea Gorgidze
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Fifth Year

Selin Kayakent
: 5' 7"; Sophomore

Rebecca Laynes
: 5' 4"; Sophomore

Masha Moskaltsova
: 5' 7"; Senior

Jiselle Okoye
: 5' 5"; Freshman

Viola Ranieri
: 5' 4"; Freshman