By Carson Vercoe | Sports Writer
The Baylor women’s tennis team enters the 2026 season looking to finish what they couldn’t last year.
The Bears finished 14-10, with an 8-5 record in the Big 12, placing them eighth in the conference. They lost to TCU in the Big 12 tournament but still made the NCAA tournament.
Baylor took on No. 25 Wisconsin and pulled off a 4-3 win but lost in the next round to No. 3 Texas A&M, 4-1.
The Bears now enter the fall with a younger group as head coach Joey Scrivano begins his 25th season with the program.
Scrivano has led the women’s tennis program to unreal heights in his tenure. He has led the Bears to two NCAA Final Four appearances, six NCAA Elite Eight appearances, eight Big 12 championships and several other accomplishments.
While the goal remains for the Bears to accomplish these feats, Scrivano’s main goal is much simpler.
“The expectations are to get our athletes to buy into our value system, work hard, put the team first and have a great spirit,” Scrivano said. “The culture of the team revolves around the unity of the team, so that’s my expectation that if we do those three to four things really well, the results will take care of themselves.”
Baylor showcases five underclassmen on the nine-player roster, similar to last season’s team utilizing six. Scrivano has gone back to basics with a younger team as he continues to get it to “buy in” early in the fall.
“When you have a young group, you have to spend a lot more time teaching the fundamentals of the game,” Scrivano said. “But also, the fundamentals of being on the team as well.”
Scrivano is not the only veteran presence for the young squad.
The Bears feature senior Zuzanna Kubacha, who finished her junior season with a 23-7 singles record and earned All-Big 12 Singles First Team honors.
She will lead this young team and offer her teammates her knowledge as she enters her senior season.
“I’m really excited to finally use my leadership skills and be the oldest player on the team who is also a role model and a captain,” Kubacha said.
Kubacha’s play will be a big factor for the squad as she aims to grow her game throughout her fourth season in Waco.
“My personal goal is to keep getting better every day,” Kubacha said. “Just chipping away, getting at least one percent better every day.”
She made it to the round of 16 in both singles and doubles at the ITA All-American Championships to begin the fall season. She played alongside senior LSU transfer Kenna Erickson in the duo’s first doubles pairing.
The team also features sophomores Luna Ivkovic and Gabrielle Villegas, who both enter their second seasons with Baylor.
“Luna and Gabby are sophomores who have been in this program for a year, but they have come a long way,” Scrivano said.
Scrivano believes this season will need to be a team effort while still relying on Kubacha’s experience.
“It takes a really big team to go far, so everybody’s going to play a big role,” Scrivano said. “I think the longer you’re in the program, the more responsibility you’re going to have.”
The Bears will need every player’s help to find success as they push through the long season, but for Scrivano, success doesn’t just happen on the court.
“If we do the right things every day on the court and in the weight room and classroom, and if we do the right things from a lifestyle perspective, then the results will come from there,” Scrivano said.
The Bears will continue to strive for success when they head to Montgomery, Alabama, for the Blue Gray Tennis Classic. The matches will begin Friday at Lagoon Park.
