Women's Tennis | 4/28/2026 6:21:00 PM

By Paul Suellentrop

Giorgia Roselli watches the NCAA selection show each spring for all the expected reasons. She loves tennis and has friends at schools in the 64-team field.
 
On Monday, Roselli watched the selection show with a different rooting interest. Wichita State's women's tennis team took the hard, but satisfying, route to an at-large bid. The Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranked WSU No. 32, putting it in no-doubt territory for a bid.
 
Roselli, a junior, and her teammates gathered in the Koch Arena Champions Club to watch the show and learn WSU's destination.
 
"This time was more personal," she said. "Much better. I was nervous and excited that we're going to the NCAA. It's amazing."
 
Wichita State (21-4) earned the No. 3 seed in the Norman Regional. It plays second-seeded SMU (15-7), which is ranked No. 25 at 11 a.m., Saturday. No. 1 Oklahoma plays No. 4 Kansas at 2 p.m.
 
WSU defeated Kansas 4-3 in February and lost 4-1 to OU in January.
 
The Shockers make their first NCAA appearance since 2018 and their 13^th overall in coach Jacob Eddins' first season. A 19-match win streak and wins over opponents such as No. 47 Nebraska, No. 46 Iowa, No. 39 Kansas and a split with No. 42 Rice gave the Shockers a strong resume.
 
 

Earned our spot. 👊 #FearTheWheat🌾 pic.twitter.com/XW1r52oECo

— Wichita State Women's Tennis (@GoShockersWTEN) April 27, 2026

The Shockers defeated SMU 4-2 in January in Wichita. SMU's Amelie Van Impe, ranked No. 21 nationally, did not play in that match.
 
"We've proven that we've been at this level this season and we can get it done," Eddins said. "I think we still have something to probe and show that we can compete with some of the best schools in the country."
 
An NCAA bid fulfilled one of the team's goals. However, a 4-2 loss to Rice in the American Championship denied the Shockers a conference title. Eddins wants his team to use that defeat as motivation.
 
"Losing is a little bit painful, but it makes you work, want it even more," said senior Theodora Chantava.
In late January, the Shockers lost to Long Beach State. They responded with wins over Iowa State, Iowa and Nebraska to start the 19-match streak.
 
"We are hungry and angry," Roselli said. "It was their day. They stepped up and it was painful. But every time we had a loss we came back stronger."
 
The Shockers built that win streak by strong doubles play (winning the doubles point in 21 matches) and a deep lineup.
 
 Junior Xin Tong Wang earned American Conference Player of the Year honors with records of 18-7 in singles and 23-8 in doubles. She teamed with Roselli to win the conference doubles title. Chantava, who spent most of the spring at No. 3 singles, and Roselli also earned all-conference honors. Senior Vichitraporn Vimuktanada compiled a 16-2 dual record playing No. 4, No. 5 and No. 6.
 
"Having opportunities to win at every spot is really, really important," Eddins said. "We're going to need to play some of our best tennis to give ourselves a chance to advance. I believe this group is capable of doing it."
 
The previous four months proved Eddins' point. Now the Shockers get another chance to prove it in the national tournament.
 
Paul Suellentrop writes about Wichita State athletics for university Strategic Communications. Story suggestion? Contact him at paul.suellentrop@wichita.edu.