Idaho Vandals Women’s Tennis Team Enters Big Sky Conference Tournament With Championship Aspirations
The University of Idaho Vandals women’s tennis team has traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, to compete in the Big Sky Conference tournament, with competition running through Saturday, April 26. The Vandals bring a 10-10 overall record and a 4-4 conference mark into the tournament, hoping to turn around a recent stretch of difficult results and contend for a conference championship.
Head coach Sanne Clevenger has guided the Moscow-based program through a season of highs and lows. The Vandals enter the postseason having dropped their last three matches, but the team’s résumé tells a more complete story — one that includes some of the most competitive tennis in the Big Sky Conference this year.
A Season of Momentum and Setbacks
Idaho’s season took a meaningful turn earlier this year when the Vandals squared off against the University of South Dakota inside the P1FCU Kibbie Dome. Coming off a tough 5-2 loss to the University of New Mexico, the team needed a response. They delivered emphatically, routing South Dakota 6-1 in a performance that energized the program heading into conference play.
That victory launched a five-match winning streak and a 3-0 start to Big Sky Conference action — a run that raised expectations for what this group could accomplish in the postseason. However, the Vandals struggled to maintain that form down the stretch, dropping four of their last six matches and entering the Big Sky tournament having lost three consecutive contests.
Despite the recent skid, the tournament format offers Idaho a clean slate. Every program in the Big Sky begins the postseason on equal footing, and the Vandals have shown throughout the regular season that they are capable of competing with anyone in the conference when playing their best tennis.
Key Players to Watch in Phoenix
Junior Naomi Schraeder has been one of the team’s most consistent performers across both singles and doubles competition throughout the 2026 season. Her ability to contribute points in multiple formats makes her one of the most important players on the roster heading into the tournament.
Fellow junior Jessica Matthews has also been a reliable contributor alongside Schraeder. Matthews has navigated her own challenging stretches during the regular season but remains a key figure in Idaho’s hopes for tournament success.
Junior Ida Johansson has quietly assembled a strong season as part of the team’s No. 2 doubles pairing and has held her own in singles action, providing crucial contributions even during the team’s more difficult stretches.
Among the younger players, sophomores Hanna Koprowska, Soha Singh, and Chenyue Xu have all made significant strides as the season progressed and appear to be finding their best tennis at the right moment. Peaking in late April — just as the postseason arrives — is exactly the kind of timing coaches hope for from developing players.
Providing veteran leadership are seniors Valentina Rodas and Mariam Hatem, whose experience and poise could prove vital in the tight moments that define tournament play. In elimination-style competition, seasoned players who have been in pressure situations before often make the difference.
The University of Idaho is no stranger to athletic competition representing Latah County and the broader Palouse region on a national stage. As Moscow’s flagship university prepares for spring events — including the annual Arbor Day Ceremony hosted jointly by the City of Moscow and U of I — Vandal athletics continues to keep the university in the spotlight. Fans can also explore the broader community spirit on display in Moscow through efforts like the City of Moscow’s Storm Drain Mural project, which reflects the same community pride Vandal teams carry with them on the road.
What Comes Next
The Big Sky Conference women’s tennis tournament continues through Saturday, April 26, in Phoenix, Arizona. Idaho will look to string together wins in the bracket format as the program seeks its first conference tournament championship. Fans and supporters can follow the Vandals’ progress as the tournament concludes this weekend. For additional Idaho sports and statewide news, visit IdahoNews.co and IdahoNewsNetwork.com.