LONG BEACH, Calif. - The PacWest Conference announced the 2026 Women's Tennis preseason coaches poll on Friday morning. Fresno Pacific was selected sixth in conference, surpassing four teams who tied in the number seven and nine spot. The Sunbirds have a great season of competition ahead of them with several impactful freshmen in the lineup.
Fresno Pacific was picked sixth, collecting 108 points overall. In spectacular fashion, Azusa Pacific and Point Loma were tied for first with exactly 189 points and seven-first place votes each. Both teams boasted practically the same overall record at the end of the 2025 season, earning the Cougars the number 15 spot in the national rankings with the Sea Lions nipping at their heels at 17th. The rest of the pack included Biola in third (158), Hawaii Pacific just shy with six points (152), and Dominican sitting at fifth (132). Hawaii Hilo and Stanislaus State were tied for seventh with 104 points overall, followed by Menlo and Concordia who also tied with 85 points.
In 2025, Fresno Pacific women's tennis went 22-40 overall. Head coach
Sam Gaeddert's fourth season coaching the 'Birds will bring on a new wave of faces for the Sunbirds. Fresno Pacific has five returning players to the roster along with two new transfers from Fresno City,
Jasmine Palomera and
Miya Palermo. Multiple freshmen have already made an impact on the team such as
Fabiana Gonzalez (Venezuela),
Jessica McLean (UK),
Leonie Gottwald (Germany), and
Emma Jenan (Visalia, Calif.). These newest additions will bolster the team's dynamic on the court, giving returning players such as Margarita Munoz,
Malia Mitchell,
Lily Villagomez, and
Halle Faherty a chance to change the pace for this season of competition.
Nationally, freshman Gonzalez is ranked 20th in the nation in singles after her remarkable debut at the ITA singles final. She also sits in second place in the regional rankings and 8th in doubles alongside Sunbird returner Faherty. The No. 1 player in conference, Ueoku, will also return with the 'Birds, coming in 12th in the regional rankings for singles, and will be joining freshman McLean at number five in doubles.
The season kicked off with a tough exhibition against DI opponent Fresno State to help the Sunbirds prepare for their first conference match of the season. The Lady 'Birds had a brilliant showing against the Bulldogs and proved their mettle for what is to come next!
NEXT UP:Â The 'Birds face Menlo on Saturday, February 7 at 11 am for the conference opener!
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