IRVINE, Calif – Both the men's and women's tennis teams were picked to finish ninth in the PacWest preseason poll.
Among the 17 teams on the women's side, the Roadrunners were voted to finish ninth after going 11-12 in 2024. The Academy of Art earned 12 first-place votes and were picked to finish first after winning the conference title one year ago.
The Roadrunners, led by second-year head coach
Bruno Campos, return four players, while also losing four players from 2024. The squad loses key starters in
Emily Hafner,
Courtenay Leonard, and
Lilly Stienemeier, but returns
Monica Guarin who went 9-12 last season,
Hanna Haber (10-8),
Kim Heddes (4-13) and
Kambra Roles (13-13).
There are 12 men's teams in the PacWest and Azusa Pacific is the favorite once again after winning the last four conference titles.
The men went 9-14 last season and lose only two key starters in
Jeanloup Auzias and
Juho Kantola from 2024. The Roadrunners return six players, which includes three starters in
Marco Jalalian who went 10-15,
Alejandro Jimenez (4-10) and
Maximo Lawlor (7-12).
The women's team starts their spring season in two weeks in Kearney, Nebraska, where they'll face off against Southwest Baptist, Nebraska-Kearney and Hastings College.
The men's team will next head to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs on February 8th for an exhibition match with the Air Force.
