Exciting Showdown: Women’s Tennis Welcomes No. 2 Texas A&M and No. 17 USC at the Weinman Foundation Invitational!

HONOLULU–The University of Hawai’i women’s tennis squad is continuing its month-long homestand by hosting the Weinman Foundation Invitational. After facing off against No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 California last week, the Rainbow Wahine will compete against the reigning NCAA champions and No. 2-ranked Texas A&M Aggies and the 17th-ranked Trojans from Southern California. The Weinman Invitational will take place from Wednesday, Jan. 8 to Saturday, Jan. 11. All matches are scheduled to be held at the UH Tennis Complex and will commence daily at 10:00 a.m. HT.
 

HAWAI’I RAINBOW WAHINE (0-0, Big West)• Last week, the Rainbow Wahine commenced the 2025 season by hosting the Rainbow Wahine Spring Invitational to compete against No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 California
• In doubles, UH’s Ana Vilcek/Nikola Homolkova and Hanna Galindo/Makeilah Nepomuceno each secured two victories out of three doubles matches last week to lead the ‘Bows. 
• Joelle Lanz along with newcomers Peppi Ramstedt and Emma Forgac all achieved singles victories, steering the ‘Bows into their second week of competition. Lanz marked UH’s sole win on Sunday, overcoming Cal’s Cami Brown. Lanz rallied back after losing the first set, ultimately winning in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Ramstedt secured her victory over Cal’s Sophie Hernandez in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, and Forgac defeated UCLA’s Mia Jovic, with a dominant score of 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday.

#2 TEXAS A&M AGGIES (0-0, SEC)• The Texas A&M Aggies visit Honolulu as the No. 2 ranked team nationally in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s (ITA) preseason survey.

• The Aggies are the current NCAA champions and have also clinched the SEC title for three consecutive years.

• Three players from Texas A&M are ranked in singles, leading the team–#4 Mary Stoiana, #15 Nicole Khirin, and #102 Daria Smetannikov.

• The Aggies have one pair listed in the ITA doubles rankings at No. 70 – Lexington Reed and Smetannikov.

• Texas A&M brings back five of its six starters–including the ITA National Player of the Year, Stoiana.

#17 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (0-0, Big Ten)• The Trojans, now ranked 17th, embark on their inaugural season as participants in the Big Ten Conference.

• Senior Grace Piper leads USC into the season after reaching the Round of 32 in the NCAA Singles Championship and progressing to the NCAA Round of 16 with doubles partner Lily Fairclough. Piper stands as one of three Trojans featured in the ITA rankings, starting her season ranked No. 37.

• USC’s Emma Charney enters the season positioned at No. 45 and Imogen Haddad is slotted at No. 57.

• In doubles, Piper and Fairclough hold the No. 7 ranking following their impressive fall season.

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