WOMEN'S TENNIS MOTIVATED ENTERING NEW SEASON

(SAN DIEGO) PLNU Women’s Tennis has achieved several program firsts over the last three seasons.

From making its first ever NCAA West Regional appearance, to qualifying in back-to-back seasons, to making it three straight while earning the No. 1 seed in the PacWest Championships and hosting a regional match for the first time.

Point Loma is looking to continue that upward trajectory this season.

“I know the ladies are excited and motivated,” Wheeler said going into the new season. “Last year was a tremendous year for them and we're returning the majority of those players and a lot of them are still young as well.

“They're in a great spot to have another great year and I've seen the work that they've been putting in since the end of last season. I’m excited for us just to start competing and I think we're going to be in a great spot to be challenging again for that top spot. I’m excited to get it going.”

Wheeler highlighted the team’s desire to keep improving and to take the program to even further heights.

“What's been exciting for me is to see the combination of not just the team chemistry, but also the motivation of that they're not just okay with staying where they were,” Wheeler said. “Because if we stay where we were last year, we were still very good, but they all want to continue to get better, improve and make adjustments.”

A strength of the team in recent years has been its depth, which Wheeler still sees in this group of seven players.

“Our depth the last few years has been a big strength of ours to where you know every person that's playing in the lineup is a very good player,” Wheeler said. “That depth is going to continue to be our strength this year. We showed that we were very strong in all parts of the lineup last year.

“The seven have been doing a great job of working hard and preparing for the season. They know regardless of where they play or who they play doubles with, that they're going to be ready to go play their best tennis.”

The team’s depth was on display this fall with a strong showing at the ITA West Regional Championships, with four players reaching the Round of 16 in singles and the pairing of Arianna Audelo and Quin Brady winning the doubles title.

“It was a really good tournament for the women back in the fall,” Wheeler said. “Obviously Arianna and Quinn winning the doubles was huge, but even singles was a really good performance having four in the Round of 16. The ones who lost, lost against very good players that made it deep in the tournament and then having one that made the quarterfinals.

“The level of tennis from all five that had singles entries in that tournament showed our depth and gave the team excitement on being good right now, but imagine in another 4-5 months.”

ROSTER

Audelo is back for her senior season, having earned All-PacWest honors in each of the past three years, including in 2024 when she went 17-4 in singles.

“Arianna has been at the top or around the top of the lineup every year she's been here,” Wheeler said. “She's embraced that senior leadership role and has been doing a great job, not just in playing good tennis but in doing everything she can to help the team. I know she really enjoys that and is excited for her senior year.”

Also returning for the Sea Lions are a quartet of sophomores – Brady (18-2 singles), Anna Pallencaoe (13-8 singles), Emely Valencia (10-3 singles) and Melissa Zirkle (6-2 singles) – who all played significant roles a season ago as freshmen.

“Being a freshman in high level college sports is an adjustment and all four of them last year did a really good job of embracing it and understanding that we're really good and every time we go out, we're getting everyone's best match,” Wheeler said. “I think that experience last year of playing in those important matches, especially at the end of the year, is going to give them confidence moving forward of just how good they know that they are.

“They all contributed a ton last year and they're all better players than they were last year. All four are poised for another big year.”

The team also added two new players this season in Alina Kupfer and Antonia Barth.

“I know they're excited to contribute and I know they're going to contribute a lot to the team,” Wheeler said of the two transfers. “It's the first time we'll see them competing with the team since their new transfers, but they have done a great job since they've been here of working hard and showing that they can play some great tennis.”

SCHEDULE

Point Loma opens its season on Saturday at Westmont College.

The team will then return to the PLNU Tennis Courts on Thursday to host Jessup at 4 p.m. in its home opener.

In total, 14 of the squad’s 21 matches will be played at home, including six straight from Feb. 22 to March 15.

The PacWest Championships are scheduled for April 16-19 in Surprise, Arizona, with the NCAA West Regional set for either May 12 or 13.

The Sea Lions will then hope to advance to the NCAA Finals for the first time in program history, which will take place May 20-24 in Altamonte Springs, Florida.

For the team’s full schedule, click HERE.