WAYNESBURG, Pa. (Aug. 29) – The 2026-27 Waynesburg University women's tennis team is small on numbers, but big on experience. This tightly knit squad is focused on climbing the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) ladder under the guidance of fifth-year head coach Randy Pettit.
 
The Yellow Jackets showed tremendous improvement during the 2025 fall campaign by going 8-9 overall and winning their first conference match since the 2020-21 campaign. Their eight victories are the most by a Jacket women's squad since 2014.
 
Other highlights to the schedule included a trio of two-match winning streaks and a spring break trip to Hilton Head, S.C.
 
Several major contributors from a year ago are back, including junior Julia Umshares (Washington, Pa. / Trinity), who finished second on the 2025-26 squad with a 10-7 individual record that included a 3-5 mark in PAC play. She went 9-7 at the number four flight and won her only singles match at the third flight. Umshares also made her mark in doubles action by going a combined 3-1 at the number one and three spots.
 
Sophomore Taylor Stephens (Morgantown, W.Va. / Trinity Christian) made an immediate impact as a freshman by posting an 8-9 singles record (7-9 at third singles, 1-0 at second) and going 8-9 in doubles, all at the number two spot.
 
Speaking of standout sophomores, Celeste Matsaudza (Boksburg, South Africa / St. Dominic's Catholic School) arrived to preseason camp in 2025, grabbed the top singles spot and never relinquished it, going 3-13 on the year. She was also one half of the squad's number one doubles pairing along with recent graduate Julia Corey. The twosome combined their efforts to go 5-11 for the season.
 
Another returning regular contributor is senior Julia Luzar (Washington, Pa. / Trinity), who played 15 matches at second singles and filled in for Matsaudza at the top spot for a contest. She also teamed with Stephens for every one of the team's number two doubles matches.
 
The Jacket roster is completed by senior Karly Starcher (Williamstown, W.Va. / St. Mary's), sophomore Mackenzie Gower (Scottdale, Pa. / Southmoreland) and freshman Gabby Peiritsh.
 
Waynesburg opens the 2026 fall schedule on Sunday, Aug. 30, with a road non-PAC match at Penn State Altoona. The Jackets play their first contest at the Bechtle Family Tennis Facility on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 6 p.m. against Pitt Greensburg.

BONUS: Click on this link to hear Coach Pettit and Julia Luzar's preseason interview.