The Class of 2026 entered as a group of four, but in classic Case Western Reserve University fashion, two—Asha Shukla and Elsa Syed—accelerated their paths and graduated early. That left fourth-years and co-captains Ellior Rose and Katalina Wang to carry the program forward.

Joining them this season is graduate student Hannah Kassaie, who chose to return for a fifth year. Together, the trio forms the backbone of the Spartans—setting the standard for what it means to compete, lead and represent the program. They’ve helped turn the women’s team into a formidable presence while building a culture that still feels like home.

Their resumes already stand apart, but with one final season ahead, they’re not finished yet. This is the Class of 2026.

Katalina Wang

Fourth-year co-captain Katalina Wang has been playing tennis for the past 16 years. Over the course of her athletic career at CWRU she has established herself as a consistent and impactful player in both singles and doubles. As a second and third-year, she earned all-UAA honors in doubles and contributed across multiple singles positions, highlighted by strong records at third and fourth singles. Her third season as a Spartan was especially impressive, as she earned All-America honors after reaching the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Doubles Championship, while also being named All-UAA Second Team at first doubles. She posted solid records in both singles and doubles throughout her career, finishing her third-year ranked nationally in doubles and earning both academic all-district and conference all-academic recognition.

“Coming on to a nationally ranked team as a freshman, I was immediately surrounded by driven, hardworking players that pushed themselves on and off the court,” Wang said. “This drive reminded me that my time at Case is not the end of my tennis career, but just the beginning of the best and most competitive four years of my life. The players on this team start the season hungry and motivate me to work even harder to do it not only for myself, but for them as well.”

Off the court, Wang has been highly involved on campus, serving as the public relations chair and co-founder of the Chinese Student Association, co-president of the Food Recovery Network and founder and treasurer of Club Swim.

“[The Food Recovery Network] is an organization that promotes limiting food waste and spreading information regarding food scarcity and sustainability,” Wang said. “We take the excess foods from dining halls at Case, as well as other Case events, and package and distribute them to underprivileged neighborhoods around Cleveland with the help of our partners.”

Wang will graduate this spring with a degree in cognitive science and a minor in nutrition. After graduation, she plans to work as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic while applying to medical school. She also intends to pursue pickleball and is aiming to compete at the professional level.

“It feels bittersweet,” Wang said. “This season has been great in regards to tennis itself but also the experience of being with this team. It feels great knowing that I gave it my all and will end on a good note, but obviously it is bitter to have this monumental chapter of my life come to an end.”

As she enters her final season as a Spartan, Wang hopes that the impact she has made over the past four years will be carried forward by the younger classes.

“I hope that I am able to leave the team in a better place than how I found it,” Wang said. “Granted, it is a high request as the people who came before have done so much for the program and were pioneers who skyrocketed the values of this team. Thus, I hope I was able to fill these big shoes and inspire the next generation of players on this team to work hard and have fun.”

Ellior Rose

Fourth-year co-captain Ellior Rose has been playing tennis for just eight years, yet has become an essential part of the Spartan lineup. She made an immediate impact in her first two seasons at CWRU, going a perfect 13-0 in singles and 7-0 in doubles. As a third-year, she continued to contribute with a 5-2 singles record and a 10-8 mark in doubles, while remaining undefeated in dual singles matches. Off the court, Rose has also excelled academically, earning UAA All-Academic honors and induction into the CWRU Van Horn Society for maintaining a GPA of 3.8 or higher.

“While I did not play many matches my freshman and sophomore years, I learned how to cheer and uplift my teammates,” Rose said. “I wanted to make as big of an impact that I could in the role I found myself playing. I became a vocal presence for the team, constantly cheering for my teammates’ successes. After years of putting in the work on and off court, I now feel so grateful to be able to make an impact especially in our doubles lineup.”

Rose was selected as a team captain this season and embraced the role, expressing gratitude for the leadership experience and everything it has taught her.

“I watched as the captains of years prior guided us and have taken much of what they exemplified with me into this role,” Rose said. “We have a lot of freshmen this year, so it was extra important to help them adjust to life at Case as a student athlete and set our team culture. It’s been really rewarding to be able to apply the lessons I’ve learned throughout my 4 years and use them to help my teammates through the challenges they have faced.”

Rose will graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in Human Nutrition, along with minors in Sports Science and Psychology. She is grateful for the opportunities tennis has provided her and looks forward to applying the skills she has developed to her future endeavors.

“It feels surreal because it was a huge part of my life,” Rose said. “Tennis has taught me many skills that I will carry with me into my future. I have learned how to persevere, fight through adversity, how to be flexible, problem solve, how to work as a team, and an overall better work ethic and time management skills. In that sense I will not be leaving tennis behind, but bringing the transferable skills along with me.”

Rose is especially proud of the close-knit community she has helped build within the team and is most grateful for her friendship with Wang, the only other remaining member of their original four.

“It has been so special to go through this experience with her,” Rose said. “We have grown together, and I am so grateful to have had her by my side. We have been there to celebrate each other’s wins and support each other in our losses, and I wouldn’t have wanted to do it all with anyone else. I will cherish the memories we have made together, and know she will be one of my best friends for the rest of our lives.”

Hannah Kassaie

Graduate student Hannah Kassaie’s path has been anything but typical. After graduating early in 2024, she returned to the Spartans this season while beginning her first year of medical school at CWRU, using her final season of eligibility to compete once again.

Kassaie stands as the most decorated player in program history, earning six All-America honors over her career. She consistently competed at the highest national level, collecting multiple All-America selections in both singles and doubles. A UAA Player of the Year and multi-time All-UAA First Team honoree at No. 1 singles and doubles, she made deep runs at the NCAA Championships, including appearances in the quarterfinals and round of 16 in singles, along with top-seeded finishes in doubles.

A dominant presence on the court, Kassaie compiled exceptional records, set program benchmarks in both singles and doubles and ultimately finished with the best singles record in program history. Nationally ranked throughout her career, she also earned prestigious honors such as the NCAA Elite 90 Award (twice), CSC Academic All-America First Team recognition and ITA Senior Player of the Year—cementing her legacy as one of the program’s all-time greats both athletically and academically.

“My family’s support has always been amazing and most of the credit goes to them,” Kassaie said. “All the tournaments and practices they drove me to as a junior and put time into while also working full-time is really incredible. They’ve gone to almost every match we’ve had in college too. The team atmosphere and culture is also amazing. It really pushes you to do your best for the team and fight for something more than yourself.”

Off the court, Kassaie has achieved just as much, but what she remains most proud of is founding CWRU Athletes in Medicine—an organization dedicated to supporting fellow student-athletes pursuing the pre-med track.

“It’s a club of former athlete med students at CWRU Med. We host info meetings and Q&A panels on pre-med/health tips to help provide support for students who were in similar positions to us,” Kassaie said. “We help with things like balancing academics and athletics, application tips, where to apply, extracurriculars, research, and a lot more. We also started a mentorship program where we matched former athlete med students with current pre-med/health athletes and encouraged them to ask questions and get advice from the med students. That way they can have someone to help and directly contact as they go through the application process or just pre-med/health in general.”

Kassaie is currently in her first year of medical school and is grateful for the opportunity to use her final year of eligibility and compete alongside the team once again.

“I love being able to learn about the body and how it functions,” Kassaie said. “I think it’s super cool being able to combine that knowledge with personal relationships by helping patients. Being able to use that knowledge as a physician and see their progress over time is something I look forward to. [For my last season] I hope to just have fun and enjoy the time I have with the team.”