Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is pleased to announce the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s National Award recipients. Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in their communities throughout the season.
The Division II national awards include: ITA Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Player, ITA Senior Player of the Year, and the ITA Player to Watch.
Continue reading below to find out more about each of the 2025 ITA National Award winners:
ITA Coach of the Year
Wade Morgan | Dallas Baptist University
Wade Morgan from Dallas Baptist University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s Coach of the Year. Leading his team to many program firsts, Morgan and the Dallas Baptist team had a memorable year during the 2024-25 season. Achieving a 23-4 record to this point in the season, Morgan and his team have fought through adversity all season long to achieve great things. Currently ranked No, 23 in the country, Morgan and his team won the Lone Star Conference Championship for the first time in school history this spring, earning them a spot into the NCAA Championship. Taking on No. 11 ranked St. Mary’s in the NCAA Regional, the Dallas Baptist team came out victorious with a 4-3 win to earn their spot into the round of sixteen. Inspiriting everyone through adversity, Morgan and his team will continue to compete for a national title this week in Orlando where they enter as the No. 6 seeded team in the draw.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Paul Walker | Florida Southern College
Paul Walker from Florida Southern College has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Now in his tenth season with the team as an assistant, Walker has helped the Florida Southern team achieve great things over the 2024-25 college tennis season. Ranked No. 12 in the nation, the Mocs earned a third-place finish in the Sunshine State Conference, with the top two teams being the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked programs in the country. Finishing with a 17-6 season record, Florida Southern had numerous nationally ranked wins, including two wins over Top Ten ranked programs. Walker continues to be a valuable asset for the Florida Southern team where he not only shares his valuable knowledge of the game, but invests in the players and their success as well.
ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Karyna Yurchenko | University of Central Oklahoma
Karyna Yurchenko from the University of Central Oklahoma has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. As a co-captain of the Central Oklahoma team, Yurchenko has been both a leader on and off the courts during her time with the Bronchos. Going 13-7 on the season, Yurchenko and her team won the MIAA Conference Championship to earn their spot in the NCAA Championship. As an individual, Yurchenko went 18-9 in singles play and 17-6 in doubles play this season. Off the court, Yurchenko is a SAAC representative at Central Oklahoma and was named the Sportsmanship Award winner across all athletes at Central Oklahoma.
ITA Rookie of the Year
Alexa Milliam | University of West Alabama
Alexa Milliam from the University of West Alabama has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s Rookie of the Year. Joining the West Alabama team in January, Milliam has quickly adjusted to the collegiate game ranking as high as No. 16 nationally in singles. Going undefeated in singles play, Milliam brings a great energy to the West Alabama team and is always looking to uplift her fellow teammates. Milliam has six ranked wins this season and was named the GSC Freshman of the Year. Behind her efforts, Milliam and the West Alabama team won their sixth consecutive Regular Season GSC Championship.
ITA Most Improved Player
Sara Martinez | University of Charleston (WV)
Sara Martinez from the University of Charleston (WV) has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s Most Improved Player. Playing from the No. 5 singles position last season, Martinez has jumped up to the No. 1 singles position this season and has flourished. Helping her team achieve a 21-4 record to this point in the season, the Golden Eagles have won 14 straight matches and have earned a berth into the NCAA round of sixteen. With an 18-6 singles record this season, Martinez has more often than not given Charleston an early advantage from the top singles position. In the region, Martinez has only suffered one loss.
ITA Senior Player of the Year
Ashleigh Simes | Lee University
Ashleigh Simes from Lee University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s Senior Player of the Year. As a team captain, Simes has elevated her game to another level this season, winning the ITA Cup Singles Championship, being named the GSC Player of the Year, and being ranked No. 1 in the ITA Singles Rankings all season long. Compiling a 22-3 singles record on the year, Simes has been an integral part of shaping the Lee women’s tennis program into one of the top teams in the Gulf South Conference. A three time All Conference selection, Simes not only showcases greatness on the court but is a great example of top notch sportsmanship being named the 2024 ITA Cup James O’Hara Sargent Sportsmanship Award winner. Simes helped lead the Lee team to a NCAA Tournament selection.
ITA Player to Watch
Kristyna Hranacova | Nova Southeastern University
Kristyna Hranacova from Nova Southeastern University has been named the 2025 ITA Division II Women’s Player to Watch. Steadily climbing up the ITA Rankings in both singles and doubles this year, Hranacova has cemented herself as one of the top players in Division II tennis. Ranking No. 4 in the nation in singles and No. 12 in the country in doubles, Hranacova has helped the reigning national champions continue their success this season. In singles, Hranacova has four Top Ten wins and in doubles has three top ten wins. With her team achieving a 22-3 overall record to this point in the season, the Sharks have reached the round of sixteen of the NCAA Championship and will enter as the No. 2 seeded team in the tournament.
