Kansas Tennis Team Earns NCAA Tournament Berth, Set to Face South Carolina
LAWRENCE, KS – The Kansas tennis team is gearing up for its return to the NCAA Tournament, receiving an at-large bid to compete against South Carolina on Friday at 12 p.m. CT in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This marks the seventh NCAA appearance under head coach Todd Chapman, following a one-year hiatus.
The Jayhawks, who posted a 13-10 record this season, finished strong in the Big 12 Conference with a 7-6 record. Their previous tournament saw them defeat Charlotte before succumbing to N.C. State. Chapman’s most notable season came in 2019, when Kansas won the Big 12 tournament, hosted the competition, and advanced to the Sweet 16.
"This is a place we expect our program to be every year, in the NCAA Tournament, so we’re really excited to be back," said Chapman. As of this week, the Jayhawks are ranked 37th in the International Tennis Association’s top 75 teams, reflecting their competitive performance throughout the season.
Key victories included home wins against then-No. 26 Arizona State and No. 53 Kansas State, along with road matches against ranked opponents like Iowa State and Colorado. Chapman expressed optimism, stating, "I think we’ve been playing our best tennis in the last month of the season."
The doubles combination of Gracie Mulville and Heike Janse Van Vuuren ranks 26th in the nation, having achieved a 24-10 overall record. Meanwhile, South Carolina, also with a 14-11 record, is led by standout players Sarah Hamner and Kaitlyn Carnicella, both of whom hold SEC all-conference honors.
The winner of this regional matchup will advance to the super regionals the following weekend, while the women’s team championship is set to commence on May 15 in Waco, Texas.
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