Women's Tennis | 4/14/2026 2:47:00 PM

Following the conclusion of regular-season play this weekend, the Saint Francis men's and women's tennis teams collected five awards for their performances against NEC opponent Stonehill and non-conference foe Siena.

On the women's side, senior Kelly Dowuona was named NEC Player of the Week, while freshman Gabriela Almanza earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors. Rounding out the women's awards, sophomore Dasha Chichkina and freshman Helena Lynn were both recognized as NEC Prime Performers. On the men's side, sophomore Kevin Titus Suresh was also honored as an NEC Prime Performer.

This season, Dowuona cemented her legacy at Saint Francis by becoming the program's all-time leader in combined wins and, as of Friday, Sept. 6, the all-time leader in singles victories with 59. She currently holds a 19-12 singles record, ranking third on the team. In her final weekend of matchups, the captain defeated both her Stonehill and Siena opponents by scores of 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), and 6-2, 7-5. This marks the third time in her career that Dowuona has been named NEC Player of the Week.

Another rookie turning heads for the women's team is Almanza, who was selected as a Prime Performer for the second time this season after winning her last two matches against Stonehill and Siena by scores of 6-4, 6-4 and 6-2, 7-5, respectively. She also rightfully earned her first NEC Rookie of the Week nod.

Playing primarily in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots for the Red Flash this season, Chichkina has set the tone for the team's success, winning her last nine matches to improve her singles record to 21-12. This week marks the fifth time this season that she has been named a Prime Performer, bringing her career total to 12 Prime Performer honors.

Leading the women's team with a 25-11 record, Lynn has been one of the most impactful players in the lineup this season. With this weekend's win, she now holds the program record for most victories by a freshman and owns the second-most wins by any player in a regular season, trailing only Diana Zuba, who set the mark last year with 27.

Suresh capped his campaign with a team-leading 20-13 record. This past weekend, he earned a 7-5, 7-6 (7-6) victory over his Skyhawk opponent. The reigning Rookie of the Week now owns seven Player of the Week honors, along with multiple NEC Prime Performer recognitions.