DALLAS – Multiple Conference USA women’s tennis programs have received postseason honors following the conclusion of the league’s championship.
 
Louisiana Tech’s Zoie Epps was named CUSA’s Player of the Year after having an outstanding sophomore season. Epps compiled a staggering 18-1 dual singles record while playing every match from the No. 1 position. Those 18 wins tied for the most of any player in CUSA while her 94.7% winning percentage was tops in the league. The junior ended the season on a 15-match winning streak, including going a perfect 7-0 against CUSA opponents without dropping a single set. Epps also went 12-5 in dual doubles, playing every match at the No. 1 position. She and teammate Isabella Walker have been nationally ranked for nine consecutive weeks, reaching as high as 50th in the country. This spring, she was named Doubles Team of the Week three times and was a two-time Athlete of the Week honoree.
 
Picking up the title of Newcomer of the Year was Delaware’s Amelia Gorman. Gorman joined the Fightin’ Blue Hens prior to her senior season after three illustrious seasons at SIUE. She made an immediate at impact for Delaware in singles action, going 19-11 on the year, including 17-5 in dual action. The senior won singles matches in both of the Blue Hens’ ranked wins, including a 7-6, 6-1 win in third singles at then No. 45 Penn and 6-2, 6-2 against Maria Tsironi of then No. 73 Louisiana Tech. Gorman won CUSA Athlete of the Week twice, both following undefeated weeks. In doubles action, Gorman and Navya Vadlamudi were a mainstay for Delaware in 2025-26 on court two, playing to an 18-5 record, including 14-5 in dual match action. In ranked matches, Gorman went 4-0 overall across both singles and doubles.
 
Liberty received four superlative awards. Milana Tsulygina earned the title of Freshman of the Year after leading the Flames with an 18-7 record, including a 4-0 mark at No. 3 singles and an 11-3 record at No. 4 singles. She also recorded an undefeated record at the conference championship. At No. 2 doubles, Tsulygina earned a 14-8 record. To add to an impressive freshman stint, Tsulygina picked up a CUSA Athlete of the Week honor as well.
 
Head coach Dash Connell led the team to its first-ever conference title in 26 seasons as a program and secured the 2026 CUSA title in just his second season of leadership, earning him the title of Coach of the Year. Liberty finished with a 16-9 record, including four wins in four days at the CUSA Championship tournament. In front of a home crowd, the Flames marked a 6-1 record this season.
 
The Flames also tabbed the Outstanding Singles and Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship awards. Maria Turchetto received both honors, alongside her teammate Yoanna Radulova for the doubles award. In singles play, Turchetto put up a 2-0 record at the CUSA Championship, clinching both the semifinal and the title match. In the most pivotal match of the event against FIU at No. 2 singles, the junior faced a 5-2 deficit in the third set with the dual score tied at 3-3. She rallied for three straight games, eventually forcing a tiebreak. Turchetto was able to come back after being down 4-1 in the breaker to advance Liberty to the final with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5) triumph. In the final, she topped Delaware 6-3, 6-3, securing the title-winning fourth point to earn Liberty it's first-ever conference title.
 
The doubles team of Turchetto and Radulova were equally invaluable to the Flames’ success. They went 4-0 in the Championship, including a 7-6 (6) triumph, to earn the doubles point against Kennesaw State. The doubles point proved to be critical for the 4-1 win as KSU threatened with two near victories in singles that went unfinished.
 
Eight programs were recognized on at least one of the league’s All-Conference teams or All-Freshman selection, including Delaware, FIU, Jax State, Kennesaw State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Sam Houston and WKU. Delaware led, collecting the most honors with seven.
 
2026 Conference USA Women’s Tennis Superlative Awards
Coach of the Year – Dash Connell, Liberty
Player of the Year – Zoie Epps, LA Tech
Newcomer of the Year – Amelia Gorman, Delaware
Freshman of the Year – Milana Tsulygina, Liberty
Outstanding Singles Player of the Championship - Maria Turchetto, Liberty
Outstanding Doubles Team of the Championship - Maria Turchetto & Yoanna Radulova, Liberty
 
All-Conference Singles-First Team
Katerina Mandelikova, FIU
Zoie Epps, LA Tech
Maria Turchetto, Liberty
Maryia Hrynashka, Delaware
Amelia Gorman, Delaware
Irene Artigas, Jax State
Daniella O'Neill, Liberty
Navya Vadlamudi, Delaware
 
All-Conference Singles-Second Team
Ema Baraniakova, KSU
Milana Tsulygina, Liberty
Sae Kaneko, Jax State
Virginia Madueño, WKU
Aleksandra Simeva, FIU
Paulina Jurkowska, Delaware
Hanna Vinahradava, Delaware
Vittoria Baccino, FIU
 
All-Conference Doubles-First Team
Zoie Epps/Isabella Walker, LA Tech
Maryia Hrynashka / Paulina Jurkowska, Delaware
Maria Turchetto / Yoanna Radulova, Liberty
Katerina Mandelikova / Viktorie Hazmukova, FIU
 
All-Conference Doubles-Second Team
Ema Baraniakova / Sofia Madrid, KSU
Daniella O'Neill / Milana Tsulygina, Liberty
Amelia Gorman / Navya Vadlamudi, Delaware
Alice Brook / Maria Tsironi, LA Tech

CUSA All-Freshman Team
Milana Tsulygina, Liberty
Sae Kaneko, Jax State
Isabella Walker, LA Tech
Virginia Madueño, WKU
Maria Ivankovic, KSU
Anamaria Kurtiskashvili, Sam Houston