University of California - Santa Barbara Women's Tennis

Thibodeau and the Gauchos are coming off of one of the finest seasons in school history. Playing without a senior on the roster, UCSB won the 2016 Big West Tournament, advancing to the program's first NCAA Tournament since 1996. In the tournament, the Gauchos defeated Kansas, the NCAA win in school history, before falling at Cal and finishing with a 19-8 overall record, the best mark in 20 years. In addition to the team success, Santa Barbara sent the doubles team of Palina Dubavets and Stefani Stojic to the NCAA Tournament where they easily won a first round match before falling to the No. 1 seeded tandem of  Thibodeau was named the womens tennis head coach at UCSB on June 12, 2012. He came to the Gauchos after heading the womens tennis program at Fresno State for nine years where he accumulated six Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards. At Fresno, Thibodeau's teams collected seven WAC titles and made five appearances in the Sweet 16. He coached nine All-Americans and had seven players compete in the NCAA individual tournament. His team had the highest year-end ranking in program history and he compiled a winninger percentage of .750. Thibodeau helped the Bulldogs accumulate a record of 159-80. His teams finished five seasons ranked among the nations top-20, including an all-time high of 13th in 2004.  In 2009, Fresno State won a school record 24 matches and finished the season ranked 16 in the nation.  In all, Thibodeaus teams won 20 or more dual matches on five occasions.  Thibodeau has coached numerous players into the NCAA Individual Championships and in 2004 one of his players, Jelena Pandzic, reached the title match.  In 2005, the Bulldogs tandem of Lucia Sainz and Katarina Winterhalter reached the championship match in the All-American doubles competition and in 2006 they reached the NCAA doubles final. In 2006, Melanie Gloria appeared in the All-American singles championship as well as the Indoor Semifinals. Gloria paired with Tinesta Rowe reaching the NCAA doubles championship in 2008. That same year, Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova reached the NCAA doubles semifinals, the All-American final, and won the ITA Indoor doubles championship. In 2009 the doubles duo ended the season ranked No. 1 in the ITA doubles rankings and Petukhova won the All-American singles consolation. Thibodeaus Fresno State teams not only excelled on the court, but in the classroom as well.  The Bulldogs earned ITA All-Academic Team honors five times, achieving a collective grade point average over 3.20.  In 2009, the team achieved a cumulative 3.60 GPA, had five players named to the Academic All-WAC team and one to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District and All-American teams.  Before becoming a bulldog, Thibodeau was the assistant coach for the University of Arizona womens team for three years, helping to steer the Wildcats into the ITA top-25. Thibodeau, originally from Repentigny, Quebec, graduated from the University of Sherbrooke in 1997, where he received his bachelors in specialized sports science. There he worked under the Canadian Tennis Federation as a national coach for Canadian junior players, where he traveled around the world gaining an abundance of knowledge on the junior circuit. He supervised national training camps, coached members of the national junior team and assisted with the Canadian Federation Cup team. In his first full season here at UC Santa Barbara, Thibodeau helped steer an impressive 15-9 record. The squad performed well in conference play, posting a 5-4 record in Big West conference action. Guiding the team to the Big West tournament, Thibodeau and his squad fell just short with a semifinal loss to eventual champion, Long Beach St. Making his mark in the conference, Thibodeau had players Kiersten Meehan and April Scatliffe honored with season awards from the Big West.  Fulfilling his second season as head coach for Santa Barbara, Thibodeau and his young team fought for an 8-16 season record. Playing top compeition like UCLA, Washington, Washington St., Columbia and Kansas St., the Gauchos faced premier programs for portions of the season. Recording an even 4-4 conference record, the Gauchos once again qualified for the season's Big West tournament. Much like the previous year, UCSB fell in a semifinal match to Long Beach St.  In his third season at UCSB, Thibodeau turned his team completely around, leading the Gauchos to a 16-9 record including big wins over nationally ranked teams such as No. 44 St. Mary's and No. 66 Illinois. The Gauchos achieved a national ranking of No. 50 during the 2014-2015 season, the highest ranking the women's tennis team had recieved since 2011. The Gauchos made it to the finals of the Big West Championship, but fell to Long Beach St.  Year School Wins Losses Ranking Conf. Finish NCAA Finish 2003-2004 Fresno State 22 4 13 1 Round of 16 2004-2005 Fresno State 15 9 48 1 Round of 64 2005-2006 Fresno State 20 7 20 1 Round of 16 2006-2007 Fresno State 23 3 14 1 Round of 16 2007-2008 Fresno State 21 8 16 1 Round of 16 2008-2009 Fresno State 24 6 16 1 Round of 16 2009-2010 Fresno State 8 19 - 2 - 2010-2011 Fresno State 11 14 67 1 Round of 64 2011-2012 Fresno State 14 9 57 2 -         UCSB - UCSB - Totals 11 Seasons 198 114 Melanie Gloria (2007, 2008, 2009) Anastatia Petukova (2008, 2010) Jelena Pandzic (2004) Lucia Saniz and Katarina Winterhalter (2006)  Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova (2008, 2009) Tinesta Rowe and Melanie Gloria (2008) Jelena Pandzic (2004) Katarina Winterhalter (2005) Melanie Gloria (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) Renata Kucerkova (2007, 2008) Anastasia Petukhova (2008, 2009, 2010) Marianne Jodoin (2011, 2012) Jelena Pandzic and Tallo (2004) Katarina Winterhalter and Lucia Sainz (2005, 2006) Tinesta Rowe and Melanie Gloria (2007, 2008, 2009) Anastasia Petukhova and Renata Kucerkova (2008, 2009) Marianne Jodoin and Pola (2011) Jelena Landzic (2004) Melanie Gloria (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) Mariannae Jodoin (2011, 2012) Jelena Pandzic (2004) Melanie Gloria (2006) Renata Kucerkova (2007) Marianne Jodoin (2011) Jelena Pandzic (2004) Melanie Gloria (2009) Renata Kucerkova & Anastasia Petukhova (2009) Simon Thibodeau (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012)   R64- def. Sacramento St. 4-3 R32- def. California 4-3 R16- lost Georgia 4-2 R64- lost Oregon 4-2 R64- def. Sacramento St. 4-1 R32- def. California 4-3 R16- lost Miami (Fla.) 4-2 R64- def. Army 4-0 R32- def. Pepperdine 4-0 R16- lost Georgia Tech 4-2 R64- def. Lamar 4-0 R32- def. Arizona State 4-1 R16- lost Northwestern 4-1 R64- def. Eastern Ky. 4-0 R32- def. Illinois 4-3 R16- lost Northwestern 4-0 R64- lost Notre Dame 4-0 R64- def. Kansas 4-3 R32 - lost Cal 4-0        Marianne Jodoine                                                                   45 Marianne Jodoine                                                                   42 Anastasia Petukhova                                                              19 Renata Kucerkova                                                                  97 Renata Kucercova/ Laura Pola                                                 47 Melanie Gloria                                                                         16 Anastasia Petukhova                                                               34 Anastasia Petukhova/ Renata Kucerkova                                   1 Melanie Gloria/ Tinesta Rowe                                                   23 Melanie Gloria                                                                        15 Anastasia Petukhova                                                              20 Tinesta Rowe                                                                        114 Melanie Gloria/ Tinesta Rowe                                                    2 Anastasia Petukhova/ Renata Kucerkova                                 18              Melanie Gloria                                                                         4 Renata Kucerkova                                                                 64 Gloria/Rowe                                                                          30 Melanie Gloria                                                             23 Katarina Winterhalter                                                           65 Lucia Sainz/ Katarina Winterhalter                                          6 Katarina Winterhalter                                                           97 Katarina Winterhalter/ Lucia Sainz                                        34 Jelena Pandzic                                                                         6 Lucia Tallo                                                                            108 Lucia Tallo/ Jelena Pandzic                                                      23

Simon Thibodeau was named the women’s tennis head coach at UC Santa Barbara on June 12, 2012. He comes to UC Santa Barbara after heading the women’s tennis program at Fresno State for nine years where he accumulated six Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards. After an up-and-down year in 2023, Thibodeau's team returned to form in 2024 posting a 14-8-1 overall record and an 8-0-1 record in Big West competition. The Gauchos won the Regular Season title and earned the No. 1 seed in The Big West Championships. Their run ended in the semifinal round when they lost to eventual champions Cal Poly. Although the team did not receive an at-large selection for the NCAA National Tournament, athletes Amelia Honer and Kira Reuter were selected to compete in the NCAA Singles and Doubles National Championships. In the final team rankings, UC Santa Barbara slid in at No. 52. Honer went on to earn All-American status after advancing to the National Quarterfinals in the NCAA National Singles Tournament. It was the Gauchos first All-American since 1996. In the 2021-22 season, it was more of the same for Thibodeau's team. The Gauchos compiled a 21-7 overall record, sweeping through The Big West. For the second straight year as UC Santa Barbara would go undefeated against conference opponents. The Gauchos also recorded wins against Stanford, USC, TCU, Kansas, Texas Tech and San Diego during the regular season. UC Santa Barbara went on to win The Big West Regular Season and Postseason Championship. After defeating Kansas in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament the Gauchos run would end at the hands of Stanford. In the final ITA rankings, the Gauchos would rank No. 22 in the nation. During the 2020-21 campaign, winning the Big West championship without losing a match while going undefeated against conference opponents in the regular season. The Gauchos went 13-4 overall with only six players and reached the NCAA tournament where they fell to Stanford. Santa Barbara finished the season ranked in the top 50 nationally and had two players ranked in the top 100. UC Santa Barbara swept the conference's major awards, with Thibodeau winning Coach of the Year.  In Thibodeau's 11 years in Santa Barbara, the Gauchos have become the team to beat in the Big West. The Gauchos have won four Big West Championships (2016, 2017, 2021, 2022), while achieving a 146-107 overall record under Thibodeau. The Gauchos reached the NCAA tournament as a team in 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2022 seasons. In addition to the team's collective success, Santa Barbara has also had players reach the NCAA individual tournament, with doubles teams making the tournament in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. At Fresno, Thibodeau's teams collected seven WAC titles and made five appearances in the Sweet 16. He coached nine All-Americans and had seven players compete in the NCAA individual tournament. His team had the highest year-end ranking in program history and finished in the top-20 on five occasions. Thibodeau compiled a 156-80 record overall and won 20 or more dual matches five times.  Before becoming a Bulldog, Thibodeau was the assistant coach for the University of Arizona women’s team for three years, helping to steer the Wildcats into the ITA top-25. Thibodeau, originally from Repentigny, Quebec, graduated from the University of Sherbrooke in 1997, where he received his bachelor’s in specialized sports science. There, he worked under the Canadian Tennis Federation as a national coach for Canadian junior players, where he traveled around the world gaining an abundance of knowledge on the junior circuit. He supervised national training camps, coached members of the national junior team and assisted with the Canadian Federation Cup team. Thibodeau has an 18 year-old daughter, Camelia Blue.   Head Coaching Record Team Year Record Postseason/Honors/Notes Fresno State 2004 22-4 WAC Champions, NCAA Round of 16, Coach of the Year Fresno State 2005 16-9 WAC Champions, NCAA First Round Fresno State 2006 20-7 WAC Champions, NCAA Round of 16, Coach of the Year Fresno State 2007 22-4 WAC Champions, NCAA Round of 16, Coach of the Year Fresno State 2008 22-8 WAC Champions, NCAA Round of 16, Coach of the Year Fresno State 2009 24-6 WAC Champions, NCAA Round of 16, Coach of the Year Fresno State 2010 8-20 WAC Finalists Fresno State 2011 11-14 WAC Champions, NCAA First Round Fresno State 2012 15-9 WAC Finalists, Coach of the Year UC Santa Barbara 2013 15-9 UC Santa Barbara 2014 8-16 UC Santa Barbara 2015 16-9 Big West Championship Final Appearance UC Santa Barbara 2016 19-8 Big West Tournament Champions, NCAA Second Round UC Santa Barbara 2017 17-10 Big West Tournament Champions, NCAA First Round UC Santa Barbara 2018 12-13 Big West Regular Season Champions UC Santa Barbara 2019 14-8 Big West Regular Season Champions UC Santa Barbara 2020 5-8 UC Santa Barbara 2021 13-4 Big West Regular Season Champions, Big West Tournament Champions, NCAA First Round, Coach of the Year UC Santa Barbara 2022 21-7 Big West Regular Season Champions, Big West Tournament Champions, NCAA Second Round, Coach of the Year UC Santa Barbara 2023 6-15 UC Santa Barbara 2024 14-8-1 Big West Regular Season Champions Total 21 seasons 320-196-1 (.620)

Camille Kiss was named the Assistant Coach of Women's Tennis in October 2025. Camille returns to Santa Barbara after spending some time competing in professional ITF and PTT events after her stint as a UC Santa Barbara student-athlete. During her time at UC Santa Barbara Camille was a three time First Team All-Big West selection in singles and earned Second Team recognition in 2021. She was also named The Big West Freshman of the Year after posting a perfect 8-0 conference singles record during her first season. In her final season she was named All-Big West Second Team in doubles and earned four Big West Player of the Week selections over her career.