BRENTWOOD, Tenn. - In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head women’s tennis coaches, Bryant has been picked as the preseason favorite for the 2026 season.
The Bulldogs earned four of the seven first-place votes to receive 34 total points. The defending tournament champions look to repeat behind All-OVC selections Natalia Vela, Yahli Noy and Maria Jose Hernandez Diaz.
SIUE received the three remaining first place votes for 31 points. Southeast Missouri, after collecting its third consecutive regular season title, was picked third with 25 points. while Western Illinois was picked fourth receiving 26 points, followed by Lindenwood (15), Southern Indiana (11) and Tennessee State (7).
Bryant, in its second season in the OVC as an affiliate member, will not play a regular season conference schedule in 2026. The Bulldogs will compete at the conference tournament as part of the seven-team field.
The top two teams in the OVC standings, as determined by conference match winning percentage, will earn the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for the tournament. Seeds three through seven will be determined by ITA ranking.
The season will conclude with the 2026 OVC Tennis Championships (April 17-19) at the Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis, Mo.
2026 OVC Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
1. Bryant (4) – 34
2. SIUE (3) – 31
3. Southeast Missouri – 25
4. Western Illinois – 24
5. Lindenwood – 15
6. Southern Indiana – 11
7. Tennessee State – 7
*Bryant will compete at the conference championships but will not play a conference schedule in 2026.
Returning 2025 All-OVC Selections
Singles
Yahli Noy, Jr., Bryant
Natalia Vela, Sr.,Bryant
Fabiana Labrador, Jr., Lindenwood
Stefaniya Anikina, Jr., SIUE
Margaux Guibal Britt, Sr., SIUE
Antonia Ferrarini, Jr., Southern Indiana
Richardlyne Francois, Jr., Western Illinois
Chloe Routier, Jr., Western Illinois
Doubles
Natalia Vela /
Maria Jose Hernandez Diaz, Jr., Bryant
Stefaniya Anikina, SIUE
2026 OVC Players to Watch
Laura Stypula, Fr., Bryant
Megan Caffin, So., Lindenwood
Sofiya Zemtsova, Jr., Southeast Missouri
Elena Palioura, So., SIUE
Sofia Davidoff, Jr., Southern Indiana
Jovana Nikolic, Sr., Tennessee State
Nour Gueblaoui, Sr., Western Illinois