Antolini Repeats as Women's Tennis Player of the Year; Wingate's Oktiabreva and LR's Clarke Earn Individual Awards

ROCK HILL, S.C. (theSAC.com) -- Catawba's Sofia Antolini was voted the 2026 South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Player of the Year, while Wingate's Anastasia Oktiabreva was voted the Conference's Freshman of the Year.  In addition, Lenoir-Rhyne head coach Sam Clarke was named the Coach of the Year, the SAC office announced today.

Antolini, a graduate student from Montebello Vicentino, Italy, earns Player of the Year accolades for a second consecutive season. She posted a 9-2 record at No. 1 singles and went a perfect 6-0 in SAC action. She was even more dominant in doubles, going 13-0 at second doubles and 7-0 in the SAC. She helped Catawba to a second straight SAC Regular Season title.  

Oktiabreva, a freshman from Horomerice, Czech Republic, is the No. 39 ranked player in Division II and had a standout rookie season for the Bulldogs. She recorded a 9-6 record in singles with a 6-1 mark in SAC action. She was a perfect 4-0 in second singles and had 11 matches at No. 1 singles. In doubles action, she went 13-2 overall and 7-1 in the SAC with all her matches were at the No. 1 spot.

Clarke earns the SAC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year honors after leading Lenoir-Rhyne to its best finish in program history. Lenoir-Rhyne finished second in the conference with a 10-1 record and the Bears were 13-2 overall. For the first time in program history, Clarke led LR to a win over Wingate when they topped the Bulldogs 4-2 on April 8. Each of LR's two losses have come against nationally ranked foes.

Joining Antolini and Oktiabreva on the All-SAC first team singles squad are Catawba teammates Rin Igarashi and Ami Miya along with Carson-Newman's Hala Awad and Lenoir-Rhyne's Runa Muderrisoglu.  

The All-SAC first team doubles honorees are Miya and Lili Drukerova from Catawba along with teammates Antolini and Igarashi and Wingate's Oktiabreva and Daniela Kotara.

Women's Tennis All-Conference

First Team Singles

Sofia Antolini, Catawba
Hala Awad, Carson-Newman
Anastasia Oktiabreva, Wingate
Ami Miya, Catawba
Runa Muderrisoglu, Lenoir-Rhyne
Rin Igarashi, Catawba

Second Team Singles

Hanna Bougouffa, Catawba
Claudia Vallejos, Wingate
Nellie Wahlberg, Lenoir-Rhyne
Ylva Frafjord Landa, Tusculum
Gigi Sompayrac, Anderson
Sandra Mahbouli, Lenoir-Rhyne

Third Team Singles

Lili Drukerova, Catawba
Natalia Reimer, Lincoln Memorial
Kenzy Abdelaal, UVA Wise
Fernanda Castillo, Wingate
Ilona Hernandez-Sanchez, Coker
Lina Sarhan, Newberry

First Team Doubles

Lili Drukerova / Ami Miya, Catawba
Anastasia Oktiabreva / Daniela Kotara, Wingate
Sofia Antolini / Rin Igarashi, Catawba

Second Team Doubles

Runa Muderrisoglu / Mehetia Boosie, Lenoir-Rhyne
Claudia Vallejos / Mariia Bobrovska, Wingate
Lina Sarhan / Hazel Vernon, Newberry

Third Team Doubles

Agata Budnik / Tina Gomes, Catawba
Nellie Wahlberg / Alexa Allison, Lenoir-Rhyne
Adriana Pellizzari/Natalia Reimer, Lincoln Memorial

Freshman of the Year

Anastasia Oktiabreva, Wingate

Player of the Year

Sofia Antolini, Catawba

Coach of the Year

Sam Clarke, Lenoir-Rhyne