SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant women's tennis team was selected first in the 2026 Ohio Valley Conference spring poll, announced by the conference on Friday afternoon.
The Bulldogs are the defending OVC champions. They earned a bid for the NCAA tournament last spring and fell to Duke in the first round.
2026 OVC Tennis Predicted Order of Finish
- Bryant (4) – 34
- SIUE (3) – 31
- Southeast Missouri – 25
- Western Illinois – 24
- Lindenwood – 15
- Southern Indiana – 11
- Tennessee State – 7
*Bryant will compete at the conference championships but will not play a conference schedule in 2026.
Yahli Noy and
Natalia Vela earned returning 2025 All-OVC selections for singles. Noy posted an impressive 18-6 singles record last spring, going 14-2 in dual matches at the No. 2 spot. She was named to the All-OVC First Team. Vela went 16-11 in singles and 9-7 in dual matches, playing at the No. 1 spot. She was named to the All-OVC First Team.
Vela and
Maria Jose Hernandez Diaz earned returning honors for doubles. They posted a perfect 9-0 doubles record at the No. 1 spot, with each earning All-OVC Doubles Team honors.
Laura Stypula was named one of OVC's 2026 players to watch. She picked up a pair of doubles wins with Noy in the OVC Fall Invite over SIUE and Southeast Missouri.
The Bulldogs begin their spring season this afternoon against UMass. They close out the weekend against the University of Portland on Sunday at 12:15.
