BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – SIUE’s Margaux Guibal Britt was tabbed the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year as voted on by the league’s head Coaches. Bryant's Laura Stypula was named the Freshman of the Year while Coach of the Year honors went to the Cougars Adam Albertson. The awards were announced prior to the OVC Championships starting on Friday.
Guibal Britt went 4-0 in OVC play at the No. 1 singles spot while going 16-7 overall. On the season, she finished 16-7 at No. 1 doubles and teamed with Stefaniya Anikina to go 4-0 in league play. The duo was named Doubles Team All-Conference. Anikina was also named to the 2026 All-OVC Second Team.
Stypula posted a 10-9 singles record, playing between No. 2 and 3 singles. In doubles play, the first-year played finished 14-8, playing mostly at No. 3.
Albertson led the Cougars to a 5-0 conference record as they secured their third regular season championship, the first since winning back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017. The eighth-year head coach led SIUE to a 14-2 overall record, dropping a hard fought 4-3 battle with Big East member Marquette and a match to SEC member Missouri. Albertson was honored as OVC Coach of the Year in 2023.
Joining Guibal Britt on the first team is fellow Cougar Elena Palioura, as well as Bryant's Yahli Noy, Lindenwood's Fabiana Labrador, Southeast Missouri’s Maja Bajorek, Southern Indiana’s Antonia Ferrarini and Western Illinois’ Mana Fawcett.
The second team consists of Anikina, Bryant’s Natalia Vela, Lindenwood’s Megan Caffin, SEMO’s Mia Mayerova, USI's Sofia Davidoff, and WIU’s Chloe Routier.
Joining Gorman and Anikina on the All-Conference Doubles Team are Bryant's Vela and Maria Jose Hernandez Diaz and WIU's Fawcett and Jessica Hess.
2026 Women’s Tennis All-OVC Teams
OVC Player of the Year: Margaux Guibal Britt, SIUE
OVC Freshman of the Year: Laura Stypula, Bryant
OVC Coach of the Year: Adam Albertson, SIUE
FIRST TEAM
Yahli Noy, Bryant
Fabiana Labrador, Lindenwood
Maja Bajorek, Southeast Missouri
Margaux Guibal Britt, SIUE
Elena Palioura, SIUE
Antonia Ferrarini, Southern Indiana
Mana Fawcett, Western Illinois
SECOND TEAM
Natalia Vela, Bryant
Megan Caffin, Lindenwood
Mia Mayerova, Southeast Missouri
Stefaniya Anikina, SIUE
Sofia Davidoff, Southern Indiana
Chloe Routier, Western Illinois
DOUBLES
Natalia Vela / Maria Jose Hernandez Diaz, Bryant
Margaux Guibal Britt / Stefaniya Anikina, SIUE
Mana Fawcett / Jessica Hess, Western Illinois