ALL-AMERICA | ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA | STATISTICAL ARCHIVE

Washington University's women's tennis team has a long history of success since the program's first varsity season 33 years ago. A new era in WU women's tennis began with the 2006 season, when Kelly Stahlhuth became the second head coach in team history. In her debut season, Stahlhuth led the Bears to a 14-9 record and their eighth trip to the NCAA Tournament. In 2007-08, Stahlhuth guided the Bears to their second NCAA berth in three seasons, posting a 17-6 overall record and advancing to the NCAA round of 32.

The Bears, who were coached by Lynn Imergoot for the program's first 30 years, have posted a 480-191 all-time record (.715). Washington U. made its first NCAA national tournament appearance in 1997 and qualified again in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Six years ago, the squad collected its first NCAA Tournament win and advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament before losing to eventual national champion Williams College. Along the way, the Bears finished the year with a program-best 23-4 record. The doubles team of Rathi Mani and Kat Copiozo advanced to the national title match of the NCAA Doubles Championship.

In addition, 15 individual players have made trips to the NCAA Championships. Debbie Michelson, named an All-American in 1992 and a 1997 inductee to WU's Sports Hall of Fame, competed in the 1990, 1991 and 1992 tournaments. In 1999, Katie Abrams, Nandini Chaturvedula and Priya Vajani qualified for NCAA competition. In all, six student-athletes have earned eight All-America citations.

Moreover, 25 players have achieved first-team all-University Athletic Association status, including a school-best four in 1991, 1995 and 1997. As a team, the Bears have placed second 16 times in 20 years of UAA Championship play.

Washington U.'s tennis legacy, however, extends far beyond the last 33 years. In 1958, Washington University in St. Louis hosted the first national collegiate singles and doubles championships. Helen Lewis, a former St. Louis city tennis champion, sparked the movement in the mid-1950s. From 1954-58, Lewis staged a national invitational tennis tournament for college women at Washington U. By 1958, with the support of the United States Tennis Association (USTA), Lewis succeeded in transforming her invitational into the USTA-sanctioned national championship.

Though WU had no varsity women's team at the time, Justina Bricka represented Washington U. in the 1963 event in doubles play with Alabama's Roberta Alison, and the duo claimed the national doubles title.