Natalie Shamma Big West Toruney

Women's Tennis

Women's Tennis Set for 2018 Rematch in First Round of Big West Torunament

2019 Big West Women's Tennis Championship Bracket

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—Three hundred and sixty-four days removed from a huge Big West Tournament victory over UC Irvine, the ninth-seeded UC Riverside Women's Tennis Team is ready for a rematch with the same eighth-seeded Anteaters. The two teams are set for a first round battle at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden this Thursday to kick off the 2019 Big West Tennis Championships.

Last year, UCR earned its first tournament victory since 2009 as the Highlanders bested UCI 4-2 behind four strong singles wins from Tracy Van, Lauren Wolfe, Tia Elpusan, and Karla Dulay. All but Dulay, who graduated last year, will be back and looking to again push through to the next round. Like last year, the winner will face the top-seeded UC Santa Barbara Gauchos.

LAST TIME
When the Highlanders and Anteaters met during the regular season in late February, it was UCI that came out on top 5-2. The Highlanders would take the doubles point and earn a singles win from freshman Mahli Silpachai.

FRESHMEN ON FIRE
The Highlander freshmen have truly made an impact in just their first year in blue and gold combining for 29 of the team's 45 singles wins. Mahli Silpachai leads the team with 11 in dual match play and is just the fifth Highlander to notch 10+ wins as a rookie.

DYNAMIC DUO
The doubles team of sophomore Tia Elpusan and junior Sara Khattab, which earned all conference honors last season, finished the regular season with a 9-7 record at court one.

RAQUETS? OR BROOMS?
The Highlanders have brought out the brooms three times this year earning perfect 7-0 sweeps over Hope International, Westmont College, and Dominican.

TIA ON TOP
On January 30th, sophomore Tia Elpusan picked up her 2nd career Big West Athlete of the Week Award despite a pair of tough matches for the Highlanders. Elpusan competed intensely picking up a 2-0 mark at doubles and splitting a pair of singles bouts.

KOBE YEAR
Head Coach Mark Henry enters his 24th season as the head of the UCR Women's Tennis Team. He has now been a Highlander tennis coach for 26 years.