Washington State University Athletics
Photo by: Dean Hare/WSU Photo Services
Cougar Tennis Selected for UTR Sports NIT Championship
May 01, 2025 | Tennis
PULLMAN, Wash. (May 1, 2025) – Washington State University women's tennis has accepted an invitation to compete at the UTR Sports NIT Championship, May 7-9, in Rome, Ga.
Â
The NIT Championship marks the first postseason appearance for the Cougars since reaching the 2019 NCAA Championships, and eighth overall as a team. WSU will face Northern Illinois in the first round Wednesday, May 7, with the winner of that match facing either Appalachian State or North Texas.
Â
The Cougars finished its regular season last weekend at the 2025 West Coast Conference Championships, reaching the semifinals before falling to No. 48 San Diego State, 4-2. WSU enters the UTR Sports NIT Championship with a 17-8 overall record, the most wins by a Cougar team since earning 19 during the 2019 season.
Â
During the 2025 season, Cougar Tennis went 11-0 at home, the best home record in program history. Four players, Eva Alvarez Sande (25), Maxine Murphy (21), Elyse Tse (21)Â and Hania Abouelsaad (20) each posted 20-plus wins, the first time since 2019 WSU had four players with 20-plus singles victories.
Â
Launched in 2023, the NIT Championship was created by UTR Sports to allow men's and women's teams to gain valuable postseason experience. The teams are selected by the NIT Championship tournament committee, with the teams' UTR Sports College Team Ranking among the top criteria for consideration.
Â
The 2025 edition marks the third annual post-season NIT tennis tournament and will feature eight women's teams. On Wednesday, the women's field was announced and in addition to Washington State, teams selected  include UNC Charlotte, Appalachian State, Middle Tennessee State, North Alabama, North Texas, Northern Illinois, and Saint Mary's College of California.
Â
Matches will be streamed on PlaySight and live scores will be available on iOnCourt.
Â
Â
The NIT Championship marks the first postseason appearance for the Cougars since reaching the 2019 NCAA Championships, and eighth overall as a team. WSU will face Northern Illinois in the first round Wednesday, May 7, with the winner of that match facing either Appalachian State or North Texas.
Â
The Cougars finished its regular season last weekend at the 2025 West Coast Conference Championships, reaching the semifinals before falling to No. 48 San Diego State, 4-2. WSU enters the UTR Sports NIT Championship with a 17-8 overall record, the most wins by a Cougar team since earning 19 during the 2019 season.
Â
During the 2025 season, Cougar Tennis went 11-0 at home, the best home record in program history. Four players, Eva Alvarez Sande (25), Maxine Murphy (21), Elyse Tse (21)Â and Hania Abouelsaad (20) each posted 20-plus wins, the first time since 2019 WSU had four players with 20-plus singles victories.
Â
Launched in 2023, the NIT Championship was created by UTR Sports to allow men's and women's teams to gain valuable postseason experience. The teams are selected by the NIT Championship tournament committee, with the teams' UTR Sports College Team Ranking among the top criteria for consideration.
Â
The 2025 edition marks the third annual post-season NIT tennis tournament and will feature eight women's teams. On Wednesday, the women's field was announced and in addition to Washington State, teams selected  include UNC Charlotte, Appalachian State, Middle Tennessee State, North Alabama, North Texas, Northern Illinois, and Saint Mary's College of California.
Â
Matches will be streamed on PlaySight and live scores will be available on iOnCourt.
Â
Players Mentioned
WSU Tennis: Raquel Atawo Press Conference 2/23/23
Friday, February 24
WSU Tennis: Raquel Atawo previews the weekend at Baylor 10/27/22
Thursday, October 27
WSU Tennis: Raquel Atawo previews Gonzaga Invitational 9/22/22
Thursday, September 22
WSU Hall of Fame 2022: Ekaterina Burduli Highlight Video/Speech 9/16/22
Saturday, September 17
