Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is pleased to announce the 2026 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 Dunlop/Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Senior, ITA Senior Player of the Year, and the ITA Player to Watch.
Continue reading below to find out more about each of the 2026 ITA National Award winners:
ITA/Dunlop Coach of the Year
Kirby Ronning | Washburn University
Kirby Ronning from Washburn University has been named the 2026 ITA Division II Women’s Coach of the Year. Leading his team to a 20-5 record on the season, Ronning and the Washburn team reached new heights in 2026. Returning to the NCAA final site for the fifth time in program history this season, Washburn entered the tournament as the as the No. 9 seeded team in the round of sixteen. This season, Washburn earned seven ranked wins, including wins over Midwestern State and Augustana who each also made the final site. This past fall, Ronning helped lead a doubles team to the semifinals of the ITA Cup and had a singles player crowned champion at the ITA Regional Championships.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Colleen Roberts | Mississippi College
Colleen Roberts from Mississippi College has been named the 2026 ITA Division II Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Behind a transformative year for the Choctaws, Roberts in her first year has single handedly changed the program. Recruiting Emily Buchanan to the team, who is a top five singles and doubles player in the country, Roberts and the team achieved a 27-2 record on the season and reach the NCAA Semifinals. Mississippi College went unbeaten in regular season play and took down powerhouse Barry in the regional final to punch their ticket to the final site. Under her guidance, all six players in the Mississippi College lineup have been nationally ranked. With a strong knowledge of the doubles game as well, Roberts helped guide the Choctaws to wins in all but a few matches this season.
ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Dari Sakhanova | Slippery Rock University
Dari Sakhanova from Slippery Rock University has been named the 2026 ITA Division II Women’s Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. As a leader throughout her time at Slippery Rock, Sakhanova has matured into one of the best leaders in program history this past season. Winning over 136 matches for her team over her career, Sakhanova has not only been a leading voice on the court but off of it as well. For the past two seasons, Sakhanova has served as a team captain for Slippery Rock. In this role she has helped mentor younger players on the team and teaches them to be competitive, fair, giving, and compassionate to others. In the classroom, she has been named a PSAC and ITA Scholar Athlete for the last three years and holds a G.P.A. over 3.9 for her academic career. Sakhanova is a member of the United Nations General Assembly Women in Sports and the Sports Management Alliance, while also spending time tutoring other students and volunteering with adaptive athletes.
ITA Rookie of the Year
Natasha Sengphrachanh | Grand Valley State University
Natasha Sengphrachanh from Grand Valley State University has been named the 2026 ITA Division II Women’s Rookie of the Year. In just her first collegiate season, Sengphrachanh has jumped into competition and has thrived, asserting herself as one of the top players in the nation. This past fall, Sengphrachanh won the ITA Regional Championships and won the singles title at the ITA Cup resulting in her achieving a No. 1 national ranking heading into the spring. This spring, she has continued her success being named the GLIAC Player of the Year and earning First-Team honors in both singles and doubles. Her dominance helped propel Grand Valley State to the NCAA final site where they earned the No. 2 national seed and advanced all the way to the semifinals.
ITA Most Improved Player
Jenna Goessel | Cameron University
Jenna Goessel from Cameron University has been named the 2026 ITA Division II Women’s Most Improved Player. In her final season of college tennis, Goessel continued to shine, growing each and every year at Cameron into one of the top players in the nation. Beginning her career fighting for a spot in the lineup, Goessel has spent the entire 2025-26 season competing at the No. 1 singles position for Cameron where she earned a career-high ranking this season of No. 65 in the country. As a Doubles All-American last season, Goessel plays an important role in doubles as well, being nationally ranked throughout the season. Goessel’s determination to return her senior year after battling injuries as a junior were a big reason why Cameron had the success they did this season both on and off the court.
ITA Senior Player of the Year
Selin Sepken | Midwestern State University
Selin Sepken from Midwestern State University has been named the 2026 ITA Division II Women’s Senior Player of the Year. As one of the final sixteen teams standing this season, Sepken was a big reason for Midwestern State’s success all season long. Playing No. 1 singles, Sepken has ranked in the Top Ten in the country all season long and has gone 29-3 across all competition this fall and spring. Named the Lonestar Conference Player of the Year, Sepken also earned Newcomer of the Year honors in the conference after coming to Midwestern State as a graduate transfer from Idaho. In the fall, Sepken was the singles champion at the ITA Regional Championships and went 2-1 at the ITA Cup.
ITA Player to Watch
Evi Roobol | Hawaii Pacific University
Evi Roobol from Hawaii Pacific University has been named the 2026 ITA Division II Women’s Player to Watch. Just a sophomore, Roobol has ascended yet again this season, achieving a career high singles ranking of No. 39 this season, while in doubles, her and partner Annika Hakovirta have settled within the Top 15 of the ITA Doubles Rankings throughout the season. Playing No. 1 singles and doubles, Roobol went 13-3 in the regular season in singles, and went unbeaten in doubles for the Sharks. Her efforts helped Hawaii Pacific achieve a season high national ranking of No. 11 in the country and a berth into the NCAA West Regionals.
