‘The stars have aligned’: NCAA tourney-bound Cougars hope to cap ‘surprising’ season in style
What was thought to be a “rebuilding” year turned into something entirely different for upstart BYU.
BYU's Gracie Levelston reacts after a made point during match Oct. 11, 2025. | Sydnie Alder, BYU Photo A pleasant surprise.
That’s how Holly Hasler feels as her BYU women’s tennis team rolls into Friday’s first round of the NCAA Tournament to face Stanford in Malibu, California. “I knew we would be short-handed going into the season with seven players. I have a lineup of freshmen and sophomores, a junior and one fifth-year (senior),” Hasler said.
“I thought we had to just get through this season and use it as a rebuilding year. ” Instead, the Cougars (19-8) are having a banner year — their best since 2007. “It’s fun to see all the hard work pay off at the end of a super tough season,” said Hasler, who took the reins at BYU in 2018.
“My goal was to get this team and the tennis program back into national relevance. It takes a lot of years to build a great program. ” After a 17-year drought, Hasler has the Cougars back in the NCAA Tournament for the second time since 2024.