WAC Flashback - Women's Tennis

4/8/2026 1:29:16 PM

The story of Western Athletic Conference (WAC) women’s tennis begins in 1991 - a pivotal year that marked both the launch of the sport in the conference and a merger with the High Country Athletic Conference (HCAC), opening the door to a new era of opportunity and competition.
From that first serve, a legacy began to take shape. Here are some key teams and contributors to the history of the sport in the WAC.
  • San Diego State set the tone early, capturing the first two WAC championships in 1991 and 1992.
  • BYU quickly rose to dominance, winning five titles in six years behind standout talent:
    • Jennifer Saret, the 1995 WAC Player of the Year and a member of the Philippines national team
    • Eline Cheiw, 1996 Player of the Year, who compiled an impressive 80–36 singles record
    • Holly Parkinson Hasler, a freshman phenom who led BYU to a title, reached No. 14 nationally, turned pro, and later returned as head coach
  • Fresno State emerged as a dynasty, redefining excellence in the conference:
    • Won its first WAC title in 1996 before capturing eight straight championships in the 2000s
    • Kim Niggemeyer, a two-time Player of the Year, led the charge
    • Simone Jardim starred in doubles, later becoming both a Division I head coach and the world’s top-ranked women’s pickleball player
    • Lucia Sainz and Katarina Winterhalter reached the NCAA doubles final in 2006
    • Melanie Gloria became one of the greatest in program history:
      • NCAA doubles finalist in 2008 alongside Tinesta Rowe
      • 2007 All-American
      • Four-time WAC Player of the Year
      • Fresno State reached the NCAA Round of 16 four times in five years
      • The Bulldogs’ dominance was unmatched, finishing their WAC era with 10 conference championships - twice as many as any other program
      • Parity defined the next era, as seven different schools claimed titles between 2011 and 2017
  • Kansas City stood out with back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018
  • New Mexico State continued the tradition of excellence, winning tournament titles in 2015, 2019, and 2022
  • Grand Canyon closed its WAC chapter in style, winning the conference tournament in each of its final three seasons
    • Natasha Puehse led the way as a three-time Player of the Year and the program’s first nationally ranked player
The 2026 WAC Women’s Tennis championship takes place April 17-18 at the Arlington Tennis Center.