Friday, September 12
Fort Collins, Colo.
Friday - 10 a.m.
Air Force Academy
at
John Messick Invitational
Photo by: Tyler McFarland/NCAA Photos
New-Look Women’s Tennis Opens 2025-26 at CSU’s John Messick Invitational
9/11/2025 1:57:00 PM | Women's Tennis
The Air Force women's tennis team boasts a different energy ahead of their 2025-26 debut, as the talent-laden Falcons prepare for their first taste of competition this year.
Taking on Colorado State's John Messick Invitational, Friday-Sunday (Sept. 12-14), Air Force aims to set the Falcons' standard of success high early in 2025-26. 2025 All-Mountain West selections Arianna Van Houweling and Nadia Kojonroj enter the season leading a talented Falcon team from the top-down. Hollander followed up last year's impactful freshman class with another injection of top-end talent in 2025, as Air Force's recruiting class this year ranked 10th on Tennis Recruiting Network's Top Mid-Major Women's Classes. The ranking was not only Air Force's highest-ever on the list but also represents the highest of any signing class in 2025 among Mountain West institutions and fellow service academies.
Air Force aims to cash in on a meteoric rise in 2025 which saw the program add 11 dual wins and a pair of dominant postseason victories from the year prior while falling just shy of a Mountain West championship bid. And while it's far too early to qualify successes in Hollander's year three, the pieces are in place for Air Force's upward trajectory to continue, with the program's first-ever conference title as the ultimate prize.
In addition to the arrival of an intriguing Class of 2028, the Falcons return four competitors with winning records in singles action last spring (Van Houweling, Kojonroj, Sofia Mavor, Shivaani Selvan), totaling 45 dual singles victories. Of the 11 doubles combinations Air Force utilized last spring, the Falcons return six which combined for a 26-14 record. As a whole, the Falcons went 41-22 in 2025 dual doubles play, capping their season clinching the doubles point in nine-straight matches.
John Messick Invitational:
In Fort Collins this weekend, Air Force players will compete in a 10-team field which includes host CSU, the University of Chicago (DIII), New Mexico, New Mexico State, Montana State, Utah, Utah State, Weber State and Wyoming. Competition opens at the CSU Tennis Complex on Friday at 10 a.m. with two rounds of doubles followed by a round of singles in the afternoon. Saturday's schedule will follow the same format, before completing singles competition on Sunday morning. First serve is at 9 a.m. on the final two days.
Thoughts from Coach Hollander:
"There's definitely a sense of focus and quiet excitement in the group as we get started. I see a lot that is encouraging about this group as we get into the season. This could be one of the deepest and most balanced rosters we've had. I'm looking forward to seeing how our freshmen compete right away, and how our returners set the tone through their work and fight on court. There have been a lot of adjustments both at the Academy and within our program, but I think getting out there and competing will bring us back to the core of why we train so hard in the fall. We made some solid strides last season and showed growth in key areas, but falling short in the conference semifinals reminded us that there is still work to be done."
Taking on Colorado State's John Messick Invitational, Friday-Sunday (Sept. 12-14), Air Force aims to set the Falcons' standard of success high early in 2025-26. 2025 All-Mountain West selections Arianna Van Houweling and Nadia Kojonroj enter the season leading a talented Falcon team from the top-down. Hollander followed up last year's impactful freshman class with another injection of top-end talent in 2025, as Air Force's recruiting class this year ranked 10th on Tennis Recruiting Network's Top Mid-Major Women's Classes. The ranking was not only Air Force's highest-ever on the list but also represents the highest of any signing class in 2025 among Mountain West institutions and fellow service academies.
Air Force aims to cash in on a meteoric rise in 2025 which saw the program add 11 dual wins and a pair of dominant postseason victories from the year prior while falling just shy of a Mountain West championship bid. And while it's far too early to qualify successes in Hollander's year three, the pieces are in place for Air Force's upward trajectory to continue, with the program's first-ever conference title as the ultimate prize.
In addition to the arrival of an intriguing Class of 2028, the Falcons return four competitors with winning records in singles action last spring (Van Houweling, Kojonroj, Sofia Mavor, Shivaani Selvan), totaling 45 dual singles victories. Of the 11 doubles combinations Air Force utilized last spring, the Falcons return six which combined for a 26-14 record. As a whole, the Falcons went 41-22 in 2025 dual doubles play, capping their season clinching the doubles point in nine-straight matches.
John Messick Invitational:
In Fort Collins this weekend, Air Force players will compete in a 10-team field which includes host CSU, the University of Chicago (DIII), New Mexico, New Mexico State, Montana State, Utah, Utah State, Weber State and Wyoming. Competition opens at the CSU Tennis Complex on Friday at 10 a.m. with two rounds of doubles followed by a round of singles in the afternoon. Saturday's schedule will follow the same format, before completing singles competition on Sunday morning. First serve is at 9 a.m. on the final two days.
Thoughts from Coach Hollander:
"There's definitely a sense of focus and quiet excitement in the group as we get started. I see a lot that is encouraging about this group as we get into the season. This could be one of the deepest and most balanced rosters we've had. I'm looking forward to seeing how our freshmen compete right away, and how our returners set the tone through their work and fight on court. There have been a lot of adjustments both at the Academy and within our program, but I think getting out there and competing will bring us back to the core of why we train so hard in the fall. We made some solid strides last season and showed growth in key areas, but falling short in the conference semifinals reminded us that there is still work to be done."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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