San Diego State Women’s Tennis Advances to NCAA Championship, Faces UCLA
The San Diego State women’s tennis team secured an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis Championship following their victory at the Mountain West Tournament. The Aztecs will face UCLA in the first round, hosted in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday, May 1st, at 10 a.m. PT.
Match Details and Opponents
The first-round match against UCLA will be held at the Tempe, Arizona regional site. Joining the Aztecs and Bruins are Denver, the Summit League champion, and host Arizona State, the 16th seed. The regional format involves four teams competing, with the winner advancing to super-regional competition.
Aztecs’ Season Performance
San Diego State enters the championship with an impressive 21-3 overall record. This marks only the eighth 20+ win season in program history and the first since 2013. The team previously faced UCLA earlier this season on January 18th, falling 5-2. UCLA currently leads the all-time series 28-8.
Historical Matchups
The Aztecs also have a history with the other teams in the regional. Their last match against Arizona State was in 2019, resulting in a 5-2 loss, with Arizona State currently leading the series 16-14. San Diego State has a 2-0 record against Denver, including a 4-2 victory in 2025.
Tournament Progression
The winners of each of the 16 regional sites will advance to super-regional competition. The eight super-regional winners will then compete at the Dan Magill Tennis Complex in Athens, Georgia, from May 16-18, for the national championship.
Vinel’s First Season as Head Coach
This is the 25th team appearance in the NCAA Tournament for San Diego State and the first under Head Coach Nicolas Vinel. Vinel was named the 2026 Mountain West Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year after leading the Aztecs to a Mountain West Tournament title and a share of the regular-season title. He is in his first season as head coach, having previously served as a volunteer assistant and associate head coach for the program for six years.
Program Goals
The Aztecs will aim to capture the program’s 12th tournament win, which would be their first since 2000.
Source: San Diego State Athletics