DePaul University Athletics

Blue Demons Welcome Toledo, Georgetown to XS Tennis
2/5/2026 4:07:00 PM | WOMEN'S TENNIS
Women’s tennis prepares for two-match weekend in Chicago
CHICAGO – After a road setback at Illinois on Monday, DePaul women's tennis returns to XS Tennis Village Feb. 6–7 to host Toledo and Georgetown. First serve is set for 12:30 p.m. CT against the Rockets on Friday, and Saturday's match against the Hoyas is slated for 3:30 p.m. CT, DePaul's second league contest of the season.
Run it Back
DePaul opened its home slate with a 6-1 win over Omaha (Jan. 30) and followed with a 7-0 sweep of Creighton (Jan. 31) at XS Tennis Village, securing the doubles point in both matches behind Nilsson/Smith and Pehlivan/Stula. Singles depth carried the Blue Demons throughout the weekend: Stula clinched at No. 1 in the opener, Pehlivan and Sechi posted straight‑set wins from the lower courts, and Smith delivered a 6-0, 6-0 result at No. 2 against Creighton as DePaul completed a perfect home weekend.
BIG EAST Bling
Junior Sasha Stula earned Singles Player of the Week after extending her win streak to five with straight‑set wins at No. 1, including 6-2, 7-5 over Omaha's Nina Wiese and 6-3, 6-2 against Creighton's Sophie Schwartz. At the top doubles spot, Clara Nilsson and Hannah Smith were named Doubles Team of the Week after posting 6-2 and 6-1 victories, marking Smith's sixth career weekly honor and the first for Nilsson.
Rocket Report
Potomac Play
UP NEXT
DePaul takes on Eastern Michigan and Missouri, Feb. 13-14, in Chicago.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Tennis, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter and Instagram.
Run it Back
DePaul opened its home slate with a 6-1 win over Omaha (Jan. 30) and followed with a 7-0 sweep of Creighton (Jan. 31) at XS Tennis Village, securing the doubles point in both matches behind Nilsson/Smith and Pehlivan/Stula. Singles depth carried the Blue Demons throughout the weekend: Stula clinched at No. 1 in the opener, Pehlivan and Sechi posted straight‑set wins from the lower courts, and Smith delivered a 6-0, 6-0 result at No. 2 against Creighton as DePaul completed a perfect home weekend.
BIG EAST Bling
Junior Sasha Stula earned Singles Player of the Week after extending her win streak to five with straight‑set wins at No. 1, including 6-2, 7-5 over Omaha's Nina Wiese and 6-3, 6-2 against Creighton's Sophie Schwartz. At the top doubles spot, Clara Nilsson and Hannah Smith were named Doubles Team of the Week after posting 6-2 and 6-1 victories, marking Smith's sixth career weekly honor and the first for Nilsson.
Rocket Report
- Finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 14-7 overall record and a 7-3 mark in Mid-American Conference play.
- Opens the 2025-26 season with a perfect 3-0 record, including victories over Oakland (5-2), Dayton (5-1), and Duquesne (7-0), all at Twos Athletic Club in Toledo, Ohio.
- Returns a strong singles lineup led by Isabella Barretto and Jone Ibanez, who are both 3-0 to start the season.
- The Rockets have posted a 14-2 overall singles record and a 5-3 doubles record through three matches.
- Led by head coach Tracy Mauntler, now entering her 23rd season as head coach and the winningest coach in Toledo women's tennis program history with 266 victories heading into the 2025-26 season.
Potomac Play
- Finished 2024-25 at 8-11 overall, 4–5 BIG EAST; reached the BIG EAST second round (W, 4–2 vs No. 10 Marquette; L, 0–4 vs No. 2 Xavier).
- Opens 2025–26 at 1–1: L, 1–6 at Maryland; W, 4–3 vs Howard.
- Paige Gilbert clinched vs Howard (6–3, 6–4) and paired with Ashley Kennedy for a doubles win; Julia Chu added singles/doubles wins; rookie Ruhika Bhat earned GU's point at Maryland.
- Head coach Freddy Mesmer enters his fifth season at the helm.
- Staff update: Assistant coach Gaurav Singh hired Feb. 2, 2026 after a 100+ win career at WashU (ITA DIII No. 10 in doubles, 2024).
UP NEXT
DePaul takes on Eastern Michigan and Missouri, Feb. 13-14, in Chicago.
FOLLOW THE BLUE DEMONS
For all the latest information on DePaul Women's Tennis, visit DePaulBlueDemons.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Blue Demons on Twitter and Instagram.
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