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UW Women’s Tennis Adds Four To Roster Ahead of 2025-26
June 11, 2025 | Women's Tennis
SEATTLE – Husky women's tennis head coach Robin Stephenson has announced the additions of four players to the UW squad, as Jermine Sherif, Marie Weissheim, Waverly Potter, and Karolina Kozakova will join the 2025-26 roster.
These four newcomers will complete the Husky crew that looks to fill the shoes of graduating seniors McKenna Koenig and Sophie Luescher, who both made significant contributions to UW's success in 2025.
The trio will add to a Husky squad that returns four members of its starting lineup, including 2025 All-Big Ten selections Reece Carter, Erika Matsuda, Carina Syrtveit and 2024 All-Pac-12 honoree Alexia Jacobs.
The Dawgs finished the 2024-25 year 21-5, tied for the second most wins in a season in program history. In its first season in the Big Ten, Washington finished with the third best record – earning a trip to the conference semifinals and the second round of the NCAA Tournament which the Huskies hosted on Montlake as the 16th-seed.
JERMINE SHERIF
Sherif comes to Washington after two successful seasons at Texas Tech, where she helped lead the Lady Raiders to a Big 12 regular season championship and Big 12 Tournament title.
The Cairo, Egypt native went undefeated in dual singles play in 2025, posting a 15-0 record primarily at No. 6. She holds the Texas Tech program record in dual singles season winning percentage (100%) as she was the only player to go undefeated in dual singles matches this past season.
"Jermine is joining us with a wealth of experience and success at a high level from her time at Texas Tech," Stephenson said. "She won some huge matches for her team last year and knows what it takes to win championships, and she knows how to win in pressure situations. We know that she will come in here and elevate the program in many ways. She will be a huge contributor in singles and doubles, and we are looking forward to her competitiveness and the way she will care about the team and buy into our culture.
"It's not only her success on court, it's her energy and character that stood out to me and the team the most. She is about all the things that we are about here at UW, and she fit in so well on her visit. She's into her academics and wants to excel on and off the court, she is a great communicator, she brings great energy and positivity and loves being part of a team and is a relentless competitor. We cannot wait for her to join us in September and see the impact that she will have here."
Sherif went 18-6 overall record in doubles play, including 14-5 in dual matches (8-1 in Big 12). She has been ranked as high as 33 in the ITA doubles rankings during her time at Texas Tech.
During her first-year campaign in 2023-24, Sherif posted a 14-10 singles and 15-8 doubles record on the way to helping the Lady Raiders to a program-best 10 conference wins.
In the fall of 2023, Sherif made a run to the singles quarterfinals in ITA Texas Regionals and was also the Big 12 Fall Championships doubles champion.
Prior to college, Sherif was notched as high as 86 in the in the world ITF junior rankings while training at Stars Tennis Academy in Cairo.
She was a two-time ITF singles champion and seven-time ITF doubles champion. Sherif also was a doubles finalist at J30 Cairo in July of 2023 as well as a singles semifinalist at J200 Cairo Regional Championships and J200 Hammamet.
MARIE WEISSHEIM
An incoming junior originally from Itzehoe, Germany, Marie Weissheim will make her way to Montlake after two seasons at UC Santa Barbara.
"Marie is a proven winner and like Jermine, she is going to help us sustain the standard of excellence here in our program and take us to the next level," Stephenson said. "She's been ranked top 10 in the country in doubles and top 75 in singles and can compete with the best players in college tennis. Marie wants to be challenged and wants to create great relationships with her teammates and coaches and is a perfect fit in our program.
"She is thoughtful, and I could tell through this process that she cares deeply about the people and things in her life and that she will work hard for those things. She has overcome adversity with a significant injury and has come back very strong, and I believe that her best tennis is in front of her. She is going to bring a unique set of strengths to the program next year and we are grateful she chose UW and excited for her to join us!"
Weissheim began her sophomore campaign at UCSB at No. 35 in the preseason ITA doubles rankings with partner Amelia Honer. The pair won the ITA All-American doubles consolation title together fall of 2024.
She also made an appearance in the Women of Troy Invite doubles championship with partner Ali Benedetto and clinched the NCAA women's doubles championship spot with Honer after securing third place at the ITA West Sectional Championships.
Last season, she played at No. 2 singles and No. 1/No. 3 doubles, earning an 18-14 singles record and 26-13 doubles record.
In 2024-25, Weissheim was slotted as high as No. 9 in the ITA doubles rankings and No. 74 in singles.
During her sophomore year, the German defeated the No. 26, No. 87, and No. 95 ranked singles players. She was named to the All-Big West Second Team for singles play and was an All-Big West Honorable Mention doubles selection with partner Raphaelle Leroux.
Weissheim helped Santa Barbara to a Big West regular season title during her freshman campaign in 2023-24, as she appeared in nine matches for the team. She went a perfect 5-0 in doubles play and 4-0 in Big West action.
Prior to her two seasons at Santa Barbara, Weissheim was ranked as high as 38 in the German National Women's rankings, a high of No. 1,290 in the WTA singles rankings, and as high as No. 271 in the ITF singles rankings.
She also won the Hamburg G4 title in 2021.
WAVERLY POTTER
Waverly Potter will be the only incoming freshman for the Huskies, joining Carter, Jacobs, and Stephenson as another Canadian Dawg.
Potter, a Calgary, Canada native, trained at Ojai Tennis Academy in Ojai, Calif., home of the Pac-12 Championships and this season's Big Ten conference championships.
She was a five-star recruit, claiming the Ojai 18's in both singles and doubles play and reached the Top-20 in SoCal in her age division.
As a junior tennis player, Potter was an Alberta provincial winner and national doubles winner. She was ranked as high as third in Alberta and 15th overall in Canada.
"Waverly is a special person and that was evident from the moment we started talking and from all of the feedback I've heard from others," Stephenson said. "Her coaches at Weil lit up when they would talk about her and the impact she has on everyone around her. She has a tremendous work ethic and hunger to get better and to maximize her potential.
"Waverly has had some good success in junior tennis, and I am confident that being in our program and in the college tennis environment, that she is going to thrive and that her game will take off. She loves to work on court, and she loves to compete even more, and we are eager to get her here to start working with her. She comes from a tennis family and knows what it takes to succeed at this level, and I can't wait to help her achieve her goals and to see what kind of impact she has on the team."
KAROLINA KOZAKOVA
A sophomore from Uzwil, Switzerland, Karolina Kozakova will join the Huskies after spending one spring season at Virginia.
Kozakova joined the Cavaliers in January 2025, making her collegiate debut against Duquesne with a singles win on court three.
Last season, Kozakova and Virginia make a run of the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament after making an appearance in the ACC championship match. The Cavs finished seventh in the final ITA rankings, rounding out the year with a 22-6 record (10-2 in ACC play).
She finished the season 3-4 in singles play and 4-4 in doubles.
Prior to college, Kozakova won two ITF World's Tennis Tour singles titles in 2024, taking the title at a W15 in the Netherlands and Tunisia.
A three-time ITF WTT doubles finals participant, the Swiss international has a career-high WTA singles ranking of 736 and a career-high ITF juniors rankings of 77 as she won a singles title and five doubles titles.
"Karolina has had a lot of international success from juniors to professionals, as well as a semester of college tennis under her belt on a top 10 team last year," Stephenson said. "She will fit in well with our culture and is the right person and player to round out this exciting recruiting class. She will bring a wealth of experience and confidence to the team and will be a major impact player.
"She was thorough in the recruiting process and knew what was important to her. She has high goals for herself and the team, and we are excited to help her achieve all of those. We couldn't feel better about the level of people and players that we have coming in to join an excellent core group of returners."
These four newcomers will complete the Husky crew that looks to fill the shoes of graduating seniors McKenna Koenig and Sophie Luescher, who both made significant contributions to UW's success in 2025.
The trio will add to a Husky squad that returns four members of its starting lineup, including 2025 All-Big Ten selections Reece Carter, Erika Matsuda, Carina Syrtveit and 2024 All-Pac-12 honoree Alexia Jacobs.
The Dawgs finished the 2024-25 year 21-5, tied for the second most wins in a season in program history. In its first season in the Big Ten, Washington finished with the third best record – earning a trip to the conference semifinals and the second round of the NCAA Tournament which the Huskies hosted on Montlake as the 16th-seed.
JERMINE SHERIF
Sherif comes to Washington after two successful seasons at Texas Tech, where she helped lead the Lady Raiders to a Big 12 regular season championship and Big 12 Tournament title.
The Cairo, Egypt native went undefeated in dual singles play in 2025, posting a 15-0 record primarily at No. 6. She holds the Texas Tech program record in dual singles season winning percentage (100%) as she was the only player to go undefeated in dual singles matches this past season.
"Jermine is joining us with a wealth of experience and success at a high level from her time at Texas Tech," Stephenson said. "She won some huge matches for her team last year and knows what it takes to win championships, and she knows how to win in pressure situations. We know that she will come in here and elevate the program in many ways. She will be a huge contributor in singles and doubles, and we are looking forward to her competitiveness and the way she will care about the team and buy into our culture.
"It's not only her success on court, it's her energy and character that stood out to me and the team the most. She is about all the things that we are about here at UW, and she fit in so well on her visit. She's into her academics and wants to excel on and off the court, she is a great communicator, she brings great energy and positivity and loves being part of a team and is a relentless competitor. We cannot wait for her to join us in September and see the impact that she will have here."
Sherif went 18-6 overall record in doubles play, including 14-5 in dual matches (8-1 in Big 12). She has been ranked as high as 33 in the ITA doubles rankings during her time at Texas Tech.
During her first-year campaign in 2023-24, Sherif posted a 14-10 singles and 15-8 doubles record on the way to helping the Lady Raiders to a program-best 10 conference wins.
In the fall of 2023, Sherif made a run to the singles quarterfinals in ITA Texas Regionals and was also the Big 12 Fall Championships doubles champion.
Prior to college, Sherif was notched as high as 86 in the in the world ITF junior rankings while training at Stars Tennis Academy in Cairo.
She was a two-time ITF singles champion and seven-time ITF doubles champion. Sherif also was a doubles finalist at J30 Cairo in July of 2023 as well as a singles semifinalist at J200 Cairo Regional Championships and J200 Hammamet.
MARIE WEISSHEIM
An incoming junior originally from Itzehoe, Germany, Marie Weissheim will make her way to Montlake after two seasons at UC Santa Barbara.
"Marie is a proven winner and like Jermine, she is going to help us sustain the standard of excellence here in our program and take us to the next level," Stephenson said. "She's been ranked top 10 in the country in doubles and top 75 in singles and can compete with the best players in college tennis. Marie wants to be challenged and wants to create great relationships with her teammates and coaches and is a perfect fit in our program.
"She is thoughtful, and I could tell through this process that she cares deeply about the people and things in her life and that she will work hard for those things. She has overcome adversity with a significant injury and has come back very strong, and I believe that her best tennis is in front of her. She is going to bring a unique set of strengths to the program next year and we are grateful she chose UW and excited for her to join us!"
Weissheim began her sophomore campaign at UCSB at No. 35 in the preseason ITA doubles rankings with partner Amelia Honer. The pair won the ITA All-American doubles consolation title together fall of 2024.
She also made an appearance in the Women of Troy Invite doubles championship with partner Ali Benedetto and clinched the NCAA women's doubles championship spot with Honer after securing third place at the ITA West Sectional Championships.
Last season, she played at No. 2 singles and No. 1/No. 3 doubles, earning an 18-14 singles record and 26-13 doubles record.
In 2024-25, Weissheim was slotted as high as No. 9 in the ITA doubles rankings and No. 74 in singles.
During her sophomore year, the German defeated the No. 26, No. 87, and No. 95 ranked singles players. She was named to the All-Big West Second Team for singles play and was an All-Big West Honorable Mention doubles selection with partner Raphaelle Leroux.
Weissheim helped Santa Barbara to a Big West regular season title during her freshman campaign in 2023-24, as she appeared in nine matches for the team. She went a perfect 5-0 in doubles play and 4-0 in Big West action.
Prior to her two seasons at Santa Barbara, Weissheim was ranked as high as 38 in the German National Women's rankings, a high of No. 1,290 in the WTA singles rankings, and as high as No. 271 in the ITF singles rankings.
She also won the Hamburg G4 title in 2021.
WAVERLY POTTER
Waverly Potter will be the only incoming freshman for the Huskies, joining Carter, Jacobs, and Stephenson as another Canadian Dawg.
Potter, a Calgary, Canada native, trained at Ojai Tennis Academy in Ojai, Calif., home of the Pac-12 Championships and this season's Big Ten conference championships.
She was a five-star recruit, claiming the Ojai 18's in both singles and doubles play and reached the Top-20 in SoCal in her age division.
As a junior tennis player, Potter was an Alberta provincial winner and national doubles winner. She was ranked as high as third in Alberta and 15th overall in Canada.
"Waverly is a special person and that was evident from the moment we started talking and from all of the feedback I've heard from others," Stephenson said. "Her coaches at Weil lit up when they would talk about her and the impact she has on everyone around her. She has a tremendous work ethic and hunger to get better and to maximize her potential.
"Waverly has had some good success in junior tennis, and I am confident that being in our program and in the college tennis environment, that she is going to thrive and that her game will take off. She loves to work on court, and she loves to compete even more, and we are eager to get her here to start working with her. She comes from a tennis family and knows what it takes to succeed at this level, and I can't wait to help her achieve her goals and to see what kind of impact she has on the team."
KAROLINA KOZAKOVA
A sophomore from Uzwil, Switzerland, Karolina Kozakova will join the Huskies after spending one spring season at Virginia.
Kozakova joined the Cavaliers in January 2025, making her collegiate debut against Duquesne with a singles win on court three.
Last season, Kozakova and Virginia make a run of the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament after making an appearance in the ACC championship match. The Cavs finished seventh in the final ITA rankings, rounding out the year with a 22-6 record (10-2 in ACC play).
She finished the season 3-4 in singles play and 4-4 in doubles.
Prior to college, Kozakova won two ITF World's Tennis Tour singles titles in 2024, taking the title at a W15 in the Netherlands and Tunisia.
A three-time ITF WTT doubles finals participant, the Swiss international has a career-high WTA singles ranking of 736 and a career-high ITF juniors rankings of 77 as she won a singles title and five doubles titles.
"Karolina has had a lot of international success from juniors to professionals, as well as a semester of college tennis under her belt on a top 10 team last year," Stephenson said. "She will fit in well with our culture and is the right person and player to round out this exciting recruiting class. She will bring a wealth of experience and confidence to the team and will be a major impact player.
"She was thorough in the recruiting process and knew what was important to her. She has high goals for herself and the team, and we are excited to help her achieve all of those. We couldn't feel better about the level of people and players that we have coming in to join an excellent core group of returners."
Players Mentioned
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