SMU Tennis Draws Dangerous ITA Kickoff Test

DALLAS - SMU women’s tennis already knows where its first big 2027 measuring stick is waiting.

The No. 24 Mustangs were selected as the No. 2 seed in the Baton Rouge region for ITA Kickoff Weekend, setting up a January showdown with No. 57 Mississippi State at the LSU Tennis Complex.

MORE: Kevin Jennings Returns To Manning Passing Academy

The event is scheduled for Jan. 22-24, and there won’t be much time for SMU to ease into the new season.

This is straight into the fire.

SMU will open against Mississippi State, while No. 10 LSU, the host and top seed in the region, faces No. 69 Denver in the other matchup.

The winners advance to play for a spot in the 2027 ITA Women’s National Indoor Championship, which will be hosted by Michigan and Ohio State from Feb. 12-16.

It’s a loaded opportunity for head coach Kelcy McKenna’s program.

SMU is coming off a 16-8 season that ended with a trip to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32, and the Mustangs aren’t exactly starting over.

Seven players are expected back from the 2026 roster, giving SMU a strong foundation and plenty of reason to believe it can make noise early.

The headliner is Amelie Van Impe, who returns after being named ITA Texas Region Rookie of the Year and ACC Freshman of the Year.

Van Impe gives the Mustangs a proven young piece who has already handled high-level college tennis pressure.

The first matchup also comes with some favorable history. SMU owns a 5-2 all-time record against Mississippi State, including a 5-2 win in the most recent meeting in 2022.

MORE: ACC Head Cites 'Horrendous Pattern' in College Athletics After Sorsby Fiasco

But January tennis doesn’t care much about history. The Baton Rouge bracket gives SMU a real shot at a national indoor ticket, but it also demands the Mustangs prove immediately that last year’s NCAA run wasn’t a one-off.

For SMU, this isn’t just a kickoff, it’s a chance to punch up before the season even gets comfortable

Join Our Roundtable Community For Free!

Share your takes, connect with our Roundtable writers, and talk sports with fellow fans. Download the free Roundtable App today and stay closer to the conversation.