Washington State Women's Tennis: Home Court Showdowns Await
As the Washington State Women's Tennis team gears up for an exciting weekend, fans can expect some thrilling matchups. Ranked No. 74 in the latest ITA rankings, the Cougars are set to face Eastern Washington and Loyola Marymount on their home turf.
Scouting Eastern Washington
The Eagles, boasting an 8-4 overall record and a perfect 2-0 in Big Sky Conference play, are on a roll. After sweeping the Montana schools with identical 4-3 victories, they’re looking to carry that momentum into Pullman. Historically, Washington State has dominated this matchup, leading the all-time series 43-2.
Scouting Loyola Marymount
The Lions come into the weekend with a 5-7 record, having hit a rough patch after an early four-game win streak. Their recent struggles include a 5-2 loss to San Diego. With the all-time series tied at 2-2, LMU will aim to break their losing streak against Gonzaga before heading to Pullman.
Cougars in the Spotlight
Washington State continues to make waves nationally, holding strong in the Top 75. Singles standouts Eva Alvarez Sande and Maxine Murphy debut in the rankings at No. 84 and No. 99, respectively. This marks the first time since 2019 that two Cougars have been ranked simultaneously.
Maxine Murphy: Player of the Week
Redshirt-senior Maxine Murphy has been named the West Coast Conference's Women's Singles Tennis Player of the Week. Her recent victory over Pepperdine's No. 10-ranked Anastasiia Grechkina, with a score of 6-3, 6-4, was a career highlight. This win is the most significant for a Cougar since Michaela Bayerlova's triumph over Duke's Chloe Beck in 2022.
Preseason Predictions and Future Matches
The Cougars were picked third in the WCC preseason poll, trailing only behind powerhouses Pepperdine and San Diego. Seniors Alvarez Sande and Murphy were also named to the WCC Preseason Team. After this weekend, the Cougars will travel to Moraga, California, to take on Saint Mary's.
Conference Realignment and Future Plans
This season marks the second and final year for the Cougars as affiliate members of the West Coast Conference, a move prompted by conference realignment. The team will return to full membership in the Pac-12 starting the 2026-27 season.
A Special Team Addition
In a heartwarming move, the Cougars signed 10-year-old JoLynn Garrett through Team IMPACT. JoLynn, who has Williams syndrome, will be part of the team’s activities, bringing inspiration and joy to the squad.
Meet the Team
The Cougar roster this season includes seniors Maxine Murphy and Eva Alvarez Sande, juniors and Zali Morris, sophomores Chisato Kanemaki, Martina Puvill, Haylee Conway, and freshman Ava-Monet Sycamore.
Leadership Under Coach Josh Graetz
Head Coach Josh Graetz, who took the helm in 2025, has been pivotal in the team’s success. His leadership was instrumental in WSU's 2025 National Invitational Tournament title run. Before joining WSU, Graetz led the men's and women's programs at Metropolitan State University.
Fans can catch all the action live from Hollingbery Fieldhouse, with video streams and live scoring available for each home match.