MATCH INFORMATION

[3] #51 RICE (16-6) VS. [1] #28 WICHITA STATE (21-3)
Saturday, April 18 | Noon CT
Houston, Texas | George R. Brown Tennis Center
 
TV: ESPN+ with Lincoln Rose and Jessica Baron Green Openers
• Wichita State set a program record for consecutive wins, collecting its 19th straight victory Saturday against Tulsa.
• Wichita State has been ranked as high as No. 24 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings this season and is currently No. 28.
• The Shockers are the highest-ranked team in the American Conference.
• Wichita State is 21-3 this season and 12-3 away from Wichita.
• The Shockers are 8-0 against American Conference teams and 14-3 in nonconference action.
• Wichita State's 21 wins are its most in a season since 2016, when it won a program-record 27 matches.
The Eddins Era
• Wichita State women's tennis began its first dual season under head coach Jacob Eddins, who was named the ninth head coach in program history on Sept. 15, 2025. The Eddins era began with a 4-0 win over Texas State on Jan. 17 in Norman, Oklahoma.
• Eddins came to Wichita from Illinois, where he served as associate head coach for two seasons, compiling 32 dual-match wins and earning two NCAA Tournament bids.
• Eddins' stint at Wichita State is his first as a head coach.
• Eddins became the fifth Shocker head coach to win his debut and improved the program's record in head coaching debuts to 5-4.
Last Match Recap
• Wichita State advanced to its first American Conference Championship match by defeating fourth-seeded Tulsa, 4-0, on Saturday — its second win over Tulsa in a week.
• In doubles, Wichita State earned a pair of quick victories at No. 1 and No. 2 to claim the opening point.
• In singles, the Shockers remained in control by winning five of six first sets.
• Theodora Chantava rebounded from an earlier-season loss to Tulsa with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 3 to give Wichita State a 2-0 lead.
• Giorgia Roselli and Xin Tong Wang ended any hopes of a comeback for the Golden Hurricane with wins at No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, with Wang clinching the match.
In the Rankings
• Wang and Roselli were ranked No. 34 in doubles in the April 14 ITA rankings. The pair has been ranked as high as No. 9, the highest doubles ranking in program history.
• Wichita State was ranked No. 28 for the second consecutive week — its eighth top-30 ranking of the season.
• Chantava moved up 10 spots to No. 92 in singles.
Remnants of the Past
• Wichita State finished 13-10 last season, reaching a national ranking as high as No. 47 and ending the year at No. 60.
• The Shockers return 95.1% of their dual-match win production from last season and added an experienced transfer in Vimuktananda.
• Seven Shockers have at least two years of playing experience; five are academic seniors or graduate students.
• The five Wichita State seniors are the most on the roster since the 2019-20 season, when the Shockers had seven.
Doubles Is the Key
• This season, the Shockers are 19-1 when winning the doubles point and 2-2 when they do not.
• The Shockers won 15 consecutive doubles points before North Texas snapped the streak.
• Long Beach State is the only team this season to win after losing the doubles point against Wichita State.
Against the American
• The Shockers face Rice for the second time this season, marking their ninth match against an American Conference opponent.
• Wichita State has defeated UTSA, Rice, Tulane, South Florida, North Texas, Tulsa and UAB this season.
• The Shockers are 27-33 against American Conference teams since joining the league in 2018.
• Last season, Wichita State posted its best conference record since joining the American, going 5-3.
At the American Championship
• Wichita State is 6-7 all-time at the American Conference Championship.
• The Shockers are appearing in their first championship match.
• This year marks the first time Wichita State has been the No. 1 seed.
• As the higher seed, the Shockers are 6-0 at the championship all-time.
Rice Notes
• Elizabeth Schmidt is in her 18th season as head coach at Rice.
• The Owls are 16-6 this season and 11-1 at home. Their lone home loss came to Wichita State on March 8.
• Rice has won its last five matches, including victories over sixth-seeded North Texas in the quarterfinals and second-seeded No. 30 Charlotte in the semifinals.
• The Owls are 7-2 against American Conference opponents, with losses to Charlotte and Wichita State.
• Rice is 9-1 in its last 10 matches.
• All six of Rice's losses this season have come against currently ranked teams.
• Rice is also playing in its first American Conference Championship match since joining the conference in 2024.
Series History vs. Rice
• Rice has won seven of nine meetings with Wichita State.
• Wichita State earned its first win over Rice since 2011 with a 4-3 victory in Houston on March 8.
• This will be the fifth meeting in Houston and the first postseason matchup between the teams.
Up Next
Wichita State will await seeding for the 2026 NCAA Tennis Tournament, which begins May 1.