SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (July 22, 2026) – 11 members of the Western New England men's and women's tennis teams have been honored by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) as 2026 ITA Scholar-Athletes, while both squads were named to the ITA All-Academic Team for their combined efforts in the classroom. 

To achieve ITA Scholar-Athlete status, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.5 or above for the 2025-26 academic year. Six members of the WNE women's tennis team achieved the feat, including Elise Catlett, Malina Dinis, Yasmine Giacalone, Kayla Ledoux, Emma Miller, and Gabrielle Tirkot. Five student-athletes from WNE men's tennis also met the requirements set forth by the ITA, including Nolan Jermain, Connor Lord, Quinn Northrop, Michel Abizaid Nunez, and Kyle Poccia. 

Both the Western New England men's and women's tennis teams were also honored on the ITA All-Academic Team. With the combined efforts of all student-athletes, both squads had a team GPA of 3.2 or above on a 4.0 scale during the 2025-26 academic year. All listed student-athletes must have been eligible for competition to be included. 

Catlett competed in five singles matches during the 2025-26 season for Western New England, earning her first career collegiate victory in the fourth singles position over Albany State University (3/13). The Ellington, Connecticut, native went on to play in seven doubles matches, earning a victory in the top position over Western Connecticut State University (4/21). 

Dinis recorded four victories in singles play for Western New England during the most recent season, all coming in the second position. Dinis recorded three of her four wins in Conference of New England (CNE) action during the season, including a tiebreak thriller over the University of Saint Joseph (10/23). Dinis had a strong showing in doubles action, picking up five victories, including a pair during conference play this season. Three of Dinis's five wins came in the top doubles spot. 

Giacalone earned a victory this season in the fifth singles spot, nabbing a victory in straight sets over Curry College (9/20). Giacalone earned four victories in doubles action this season, three coming in the third position and two coming during CNE play. Two of Giacalone's final three doubles matches resulted in wins for the Golden Bears. 

Ledoux was tied for a team-high with five wins in singles action this past season, winning three Conference of New England matches during the season. The Windsor Locks, Connecticut, native finished the season with a victory in the third singles position, defeating Western Connecticut in straight sets, 6-1, 6-0. Ledoux added four wins in doubles action for the Golden Bears, three in the third doubles position, while picking up a win in the second doubles spot in a victory over Suffolk University. 

Miller played in the top singles and doubles positions for Western New England women's tennis for the second straight season in 2025-26. Miller won five matches for the Blue and Gold, including four in conference action during the fall season. Miller also teamed up for five victories in the first doubles position for the Golden Bears, notching three wins in CNE play. Miller concluded the season with a win in both doubles and singles action. 

Tirkot saw action in five singles matches for Western New England during her senior campaign. The Springfield, Massachusetts, native picked up a forfeit victory during WNE's spring break trip in Hilton Head, South Carolina, while coming away with a win over Western Connecticut State University in the fourth singles position, 6-3, 6-0, to end the season. Tirkot also picked up a victory in the third doubles position in conference play for WNE over the University of New England. 

On the men's side, Jermain came away with six victories in singles play, five of which came in the fourth spot and another in the second position. Three wins for Jermain came in CNE play during the season. The Hamden, Connecticut, native contributed an additional six victories in doubles action this season, going 6-4 overall in CNE play. The rising senior had at least one victory in all three doubles positions during the year. 

Lord impressed for the Golden Bears in his first season, playing in seven singles matches on the year, picking up four wins. Lord went 3-1 in CNE action in the spring of 2026. The Hooksett, New Hampshire native recorded a pair of wins in doubles action, including a win in the top spot over Mount Saint Mary College in his first career doubles victory. 

Northrop was tied for the most singles victories for the Blue and Gold this past season, coming away with ten victories, all in the second singles position. Northrop ended the season with four victories in a row in singles play and went 6-4 overall in conference play. Northrop added seven more victories in doubles play, picking up six at the second position and one in the top spot for WNE, securing three wins in CNE competition. 

Abizaid Nunez returned to the Western New England lineup this past season, winning eight singles matches overall, five in the fifth position, a pair in the fourth, and one more in the third spot for the season. Abizaid Nunez went 5-4 in Conference of New England play. The native of Mexico City brought five victories home for WNE in doubles action, three in conference play. Four of his five wins came in the top doubles position overall. 

Poccia tied Northrop this season with ten victories overall, winning four in both the fifth and sixth positions, while adding two wins for the Blue and Gold in the third singles position. Poccia went 6-5 for WNE in conference play and won his final four matches of the spring season. To add to his impressive season, Poccia picked up six wins for WNE in doubles play, winning at least one match in all three positions during the season. 

Both the Western New England men's and women's tennis teams will return to the courts for the upcoming 2026-27 seasons, both beginning on Saturday, September 12, when the teams host Salve Regina University at Forest Park Tennis Courts at 12:00 PM.