The RoundHouse | 2/20/2026 3:47:00 PM
Listen to coaches Jacob Eddins and Darragh Glavin discuss plans for WSU's new tennis facility.
By
Paul Suellentrop
Five seniors and two juniors met new coach
Jacob Eddins in person for the first time in late September at the Coleman Tennis Complex.
They did not downplay their ambition.
Eddins
"A ring," junior
Giorgia Roselli said. "It's our goal to have a ring. Last year, we were so close."
Wichita State's women's tennis team is off to a great start backing up that confidence. The Shockers are No. 24 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, their highest since 2018 (No. 23). WSU (9-3) owns wins over No. 23 SMU and No. 37 Iowa, in addition to Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska and Iowa State.
WSU will try to extend its seven-match win streak vs. Oral Roberts at 2 p.m., Saturday at Wichita Country Club.
The Shockers are the highest ranked team in the American Conference, with No. 41 Rice, No. 43 Charlotte and No. 72 FAU also in the top 75.
Eddins knew that previous coach Colin Foster left him an experienced, talented roster. WSU went 13-10 last season and finished No. 60. With seven returners, including
Xin Tong Wang at No. 1, Eddins shared those championship expectations.
"The team was in a great place when I got here," Eddins said. "Credit goes to the girls and how close they are and how much they care for one another and Wichita State."
WSU peaked at No. 47 last spring, close to NCAA at-large consideration, motivating the returners to take one more big step.
"We've been working hard all these years and that hard work pays off," senior said
Theodora Chantava, who is 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
The Shockers excel at closing out close matches. They defeated Kansas 4-3 with
Vichitraporn Vimuktananda rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the third set to win 7-5 and take No. 5 singles. Iowa won the first five singles matches before the Shockers came back to win at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 5.
Against SMU, Wichita State lost the doubles point. Roselli won her second set 7-5 after being tied at 5-all to secure the match at No. 2 singles.
"It's how to be able to have courage and go forward," Roselli, who is 7-1 at No. 2 singles, said. "Sometimes it's who on the court wants it more, who is ready to fight more for the team. On this team, everyone is ready to do that."
The Shockers are also dominating doubles with nine victories. They are 8-1 when winning that point. Roselli and Wang are ranked No. 9 nationally with a 5-1 record this spring at No. 1 doubles. Roselli and Wang own six wins against ranked opponents. Last spring, they peaked at No. 66 before ending the fall at No. 24.
"We're really competitive at every spot, which gives us a lot of pathways to get to four points," Eddins said. "We try to emphasize doubles a couple times of week in practice and we've got a couple teams that stayed together from last year that were really successful."
The Shockers are in position to hit those goals expressed in September. They are confident their experience and spirit will keep them on track for a conference title and NCAA bid.
"In college tennis, the chemistry is really important," Roselli said. "It's not a normal sport. In tennis, you are by yourself. You don't have teammates who are screaming for you. The five of us are together for three years. The more chemistry you have, the more support you have from each other, the more success you can have."
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.
Season tickets are on sale now, and season ticket renewals are available as well. To purchase, visit
GoShockers.com/Tickets, dial 316-978-FANS (3267) or stop by the Shocker Ticket Office, located inside Charles Koch Arena, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
