PULLMAN, Wash. (Jan. 8, 2026) – The Washington State Women's Tennis team was picked third in the 2026 West Coast Conference Women's Tennis preseason poll, voted on by the conferences' 10 head coaches and announced by the WCC Thursday.
 
Led by first-year Head Coach Josh Graetz, the Cougars are in their second season competing in the WCC. Defending champion Pepperdine garnered the top spot in the preseason poll, receiving eight of the 10 first-place votes, to finish ahead of San Diego, which garnered the other two first-place votes. Washington State was third, followed by Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga to round out the top five.
 
Cougar seniors Eva Alvarez Sande and Maxine Murphy were both named to the 2026 WCC Preseason Team, accounting for two of the six members. 
 
The Cougars begin their 2026 season Sunday, Jan. 18 when they travel to Moscow, Idaho to face Idaho at 11 a.m.  
 
2026 WCC Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1. Pepperdine – 80 points (8)
2. San Diego - 74 (2)
3. Washington State - 65
4. LMU - 54
5. Gonzaga - 44
6. Saint Mary's - 40
7. Portland - 33
8. Santa Clara - 32
9. Pacific – 17
10. Seattle U - 11

2025 WCC Women's Tennis Preseason Team
Anastasia Grechkina, Pepperdine
Alexia Harmon, Pepperdine
Charlotte Keitel, San Diego
Maxine Murphy, Washington State
Hannah Read, San Diego
Eva Alvarez Sande, Washington State