In college tennis, winning your match doesn’t always mean winning the day. Boise State women’s tennis runs on a team-first mindset built on toughness, trust and shared success.
“Every player’s value to this team is not necessarily a number next to their name in the lineup,” said head coach Beck Roghaar. “We won’t accomplish anything without everyone pulling towards the shared goal.”
The women’s tennis team opened the 2026 spring season Sunday, Jan. 18, with a dual match against Idaho State. The afternoon offered an early glimpse of the foundation the program has built.
After dropping the doubles point and falling behind early, the Broncos settled in, trusting their depth and leaning into the team energy Roghaar has emphasized since day one: blue-collar mentality and showing up every day. Their team culture showed up on the scoreboard. As Boise State rallied for a 5–2 win, the team got an early look at the identity they are puzzling together for the season.
“We dug in and found a way today,” Roghaar said. “I’m proud of how the team competed to flip some sets and get back on top. We learned a lot, and we needed to.”
The early stages tested the group’s composure. Boise State lost the doubles point and a singles match on court four, creating a 2–0 deficit before the Broncos began to find their rhythm.
Stella Beldiman sparked the turnaround at No. 6 singles, earning her first career dual-match win with a 6-3, 6-4 decision. Wins from Allison Isaacs at No. 2 and Masa Viriant at No. 3 followed, pushing Boise State into a 3–2 lead and shifting momentum across the courts.
Freshman Carla Grignac clinched the match in dramatic fashion at No. 5 singles, rallying from a first-set loss to defeat Idaho State’s Sydney Morris 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Tereza Polakova later added the fifth point with a three-set win at No. 1.
The victory marked Boise State’s 28th overall and 22nd consecutive win against Idaho State. The Broncos have now won 11 of their last 12 dual matches. Still, inside the program, the focus wasn’t on streaks or numbers.
For sophomore Ella Piron, the opener represented something simpler: progress.
“It was a good starting point,” Piron said. “We know where we want to improve and what we want to work on. But it was good to get that first match under our belt.”
Piron didn’t play the home opener, but her presence on the sideline highlighted how college tennis places value on team support, not just match results. The shift from junior tennis, where individual results define success, to a team-based environment has reshaped how players approach competition.
“In college, it’s about the team,” Piron said. “You could win your match and the team could lose, or you could lose your match and the team could win. It’s bigger than you.”
The team-first mindset runs throughout a roster, blending local roots with international experience. Boise State features just three American players alongside seven international athletes, creating a diverse mix of backgrounds and playing styles.
Senior Paula Schaefer views the roster diversity as a strength, especially early in the season.
“We have so many different backgrounds on this team,” Schaefer said. “You learn how to communicate in different ways, and that really helps when matches get tight.”
The chemistry becomes critical during the spring, when dual matches come one after the other and roles can shift week to week. Fall tennis emphasizes individual development while spring tennis demands constant engagement, even after a personal match ends.
“Everyone supports differently,” Schaefer said. “Some people want loud energy, some want quiet encouragement. Knowing what your teammate needs makes a big difference.”
The balance between accountability and patience defines Boise State’s approach entering the heart of the season. The Broncos return with experience across the lineup while continuing to evaluate doubles combinations and lineup flexibility, creating competition without locking players into fixed roles.
That process came into focus quickly.
Weather canceled the trip to North Carolina, and Boise State traveled to Seattle to face No. 22 Washington, getting a taste of ranked competition. Washington took control early, but freshman Carla Grignac picked up Boise State’s lone point at No. 6 singles, giving the Broncos valuable experience against an experienced team.
What stood out more than the results was how the group handled it. The girls talked about staying connected, supporting in different ways and understanding the roles can change at any time.
Coach Roghaar echoed the same theme, emphasizing trust, grit and the belief that progress comes from everyone buying into something bigger than themselves.
The team represents something bigger than themselves and trust in one another to get the job done. It comes down to where the team currently stands and what it will take to keep progressing.
