Upcoming Event: Women's Tennis at Colorado State Invite on September 12, 2025
Women's Tennis
at Colorado State Invite
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Women's Tennis
Kopinski, Melissa
Melissa Kopinski
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach
- Email:
- mkopinski@huntsman.utah.edu
Melissa Kopinski enters her second season as the associate head coach for the Utah women's tennis program in 2022-23.Â
During 2022-23, Kopinski helped the Utes to a 13-11 record a first place ranking in the ITA Mountain Region. The Utes recorded the most Pac-12 wins since 2015. She helped the Utes to it's first victory over Cal, when Utah came ahead 4-3. Utah also defeated #16 Washington, the hightest ranked win in the Pac-12 Era. During the 2022-23 season, she assisted Marcela Lopez to the ITA Mountain Region Freshman of the Year.Â
Kopinski joined the Utes after spending the last four years at Texas Tech. During her time with the Red Raiders, she helped guide the team to three NCAA Tournaments and made the Round of 32 twice. She coached multiple individuals to the NCAA Singles Championship. Under her guidance, Felicity Maltby earned All-American honors. This was the second team in program history a player earned All-American honors.Â
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Prior to her second stint in Lubbock, Kopinski spent one season at her alma mater, Illinois, as an assistant coach. She helped the Fighting Illini to a 22-6 record and the first NCAA Round of 32 appearance in nine years for Illinois. She coached Jaclyn Switkes to First Team All-Big Ten honors.
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Kopinski was the volunteer assistant coach in her first stint as a Red Raider. She helped the team to the Sweet 16 and first-ever Elite Eight showing in the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech won two Big 12 titles during her two seasons, and the program ranked as high as No. 5 in the ITA rankings. She also assisted in coaching the first-ever Big 12 Player of the Year and All-American in Red Raider history.Â
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During her playing career at Illinois, Kopinski racked up a combined 162 victories highlighted by 88 doubles wins which ranks third all-time. She secured a trio of All-Big Ten selections while playing primarily at the No. 1 doubles position and either at the No. 2 or No. 3 singles slot for the Fighting Illini.
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Kopinski earned ITA All-American honors in doubles with partner Rachael White in 2013. The pair advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals en route to 28 victories, the seventh-most in program history for a single season. They ended the season ranked No. 15 in the nation and No. 2 in the Midwest Region. Previously, the last time Illinois had an ITA All-American was in 1993.
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Off the court, Kopinski was a Midwest Region ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Sportsmanship and Leadership Award recipient. She also was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree during her career.
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Kopinski earned her Bachelor of Science degree in community health with a concentration in health planning and administration in 2015. Her twin brother, Tim, also was an ITA All-American tennis player at Illinois from 2012-15.
During 2022-23, Kopinski helped the Utes to a 13-11 record a first place ranking in the ITA Mountain Region. The Utes recorded the most Pac-12 wins since 2015. She helped the Utes to it's first victory over Cal, when Utah came ahead 4-3. Utah also defeated #16 Washington, the hightest ranked win in the Pac-12 Era. During the 2022-23 season, she assisted Marcela Lopez to the ITA Mountain Region Freshman of the Year.Â
Kopinski joined the Utes after spending the last four years at Texas Tech. During her time with the Red Raiders, she helped guide the team to three NCAA Tournaments and made the Round of 32 twice. She coached multiple individuals to the NCAA Singles Championship. Under her guidance, Felicity Maltby earned All-American honors. This was the second team in program history a player earned All-American honors.Â
Â
Prior to her second stint in Lubbock, Kopinski spent one season at her alma mater, Illinois, as an assistant coach. She helped the Fighting Illini to a 22-6 record and the first NCAA Round of 32 appearance in nine years for Illinois. She coached Jaclyn Switkes to First Team All-Big Ten honors.
Â
Kopinski was the volunteer assistant coach in her first stint as a Red Raider. She helped the team to the Sweet 16 and first-ever Elite Eight showing in the NCAA Tournament. Texas Tech won two Big 12 titles during her two seasons, and the program ranked as high as No. 5 in the ITA rankings. She also assisted in coaching the first-ever Big 12 Player of the Year and All-American in Red Raider history.Â
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During her playing career at Illinois, Kopinski racked up a combined 162 victories highlighted by 88 doubles wins which ranks third all-time. She secured a trio of All-Big Ten selections while playing primarily at the No. 1 doubles position and either at the No. 2 or No. 3 singles slot for the Fighting Illini.
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Kopinski earned ITA All-American honors in doubles with partner Rachael White in 2013. The pair advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals en route to 28 victories, the seventh-most in program history for a single season. They ended the season ranked No. 15 in the nation and No. 2 in the Midwest Region. Previously, the last time Illinois had an ITA All-American was in 1993.
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Off the court, Kopinski was a Midwest Region ITA/Arthur Ashe Jr. Sportsmanship and Leadership Award recipient. She also was named an ITA Scholar-Athlete, Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, and Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree during her career.
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Kopinski earned her Bachelor of Science degree in community health with a concentration in health planning and administration in 2015. Her twin brother, Tim, also was an ITA All-American tennis player at Illinois from 2012-15.
Role models. Trailblazers. Legends. Celebrating our #AAPI student-athletes this month and always.
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