PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rhode Island College has been selected as the preseason favorite in the 2026 Little East Conference (LEC) Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll, earning 59 points and five first-place votes.
With just six points separating defending LEC champion Rhode Island College, Bridgewater State and UMass Boston at the top of the poll, the 2026 LEC women’s tennis season is set to feature a competitive race for the conference title.
2026 LEC Women’s Tennis Preseason Coaches’ Poll
Institution – Points (First-Place Votes)
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Rhode Island College – 59 (5)
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Bridgewater State – 57 (2)
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UMass Boston – 53 (2)
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UMass Dartmouth – 45
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Western Connecticut – 30
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Southern Maine – 26
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Plymouth State – 21
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Salem State – 20
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Vermont State Castleton – 13
NOTE: Head coaches are not permitted to vote for their own team.
Defending Champion Rhode Island College Tabbed as Team to Beat
Rhode Island College enters the 2026 season as the LEC preseason favorite after an undefeated fall campaign that saw the Anchorwomen go 16-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in conference play, capturing both the LEC regular season and tournament championships. Top-seeded RIC defeated UMass Dartmouth, 4-0, in the semifinals before taking down UMass Boston, 4-2, in the championship match to capture an LEC-record 12th tournament title. The Anchorwomen went on to represent the conference in the NCAA Division III Championship, where their season came to an end against Stevens.
RIC returns several key pieces from its championship lineup, including First Team All-LEC singles selections Arianna DeThomas and Haylie Peacock, with Peacock also earning a spot on the 2025 LEC Doubles Team of the Year. Faith Owren, the 2025 LEC Rookie of the Year, also returns after going undefeated in singles during her first collegiate season, while Emilia Houwers earned Second Team All-LEC singles recognition and teamed with DeThomas to earn Second Team All-LEC honors in doubles.
Bridgewater State Close Behind
Bridgewater State earned 57 points and two first-place votes after finishing 9-5 overall and 7-1 in conference play last season. The Bears earned the No. 2 seed in the LEC Tournament before falling to UMass Boston, 4-3, in a tightly contested semifinal.
Bridgewater State returns all six starters from last season, led by First Team All-LEC singles selection Aislyn Kelliher and Second Team All-LEC singles selection Morgan Smith. Kelliher and Smith also teamed to earn Second Team All-LEC honors in doubles. Emma Gibney, Sarah Pothier, Ava Alves and Samantha Bettencourt round out an experienced returning lineup, while Vialetta Babichev, Anna Eccles and Maeve Snyder join the Bears as newcomers.
UMass Boston Looks to Return to Championship Match
UMass Boston was selected third with 53 points and two first-place votes after finishing 11-5 overall and 6-2 in LEC play. The third-seeded Beacons defeated Southern Maine, 4-0, in the opening round before edging Bridgewater State, 4-3, in the semifinals to advance to their fourth consecutive LEC championship match. Their run ended with a 4-2 loss to Rhode Island College.
The Beacons return one of the conference's most decorated players in Zainab Patel, the three-time reigning LEC Singles Player of the Year. Patel went a perfect 8-0 at No. 1 singles in conference play last season and earned First Team All-LEC singles honors for the third consecutive year. Tatiana Malone also returns after earning Second Team All-LEC honors in singles and First Team All-LEC recognition in doubles, while Karina Khalsa finished last season with a 7-2 record. UMass Boston adds several newcomers to its lineup, including Sofia DaSilva Askew, Aleyna Yildirm and Mila Pipkin.
UMass Dartmouth Selected Fourth
UMass Dartmouth earned 45 points to place fourth after finishing 9-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play last season. The fourth-seeded Corsairs defeated Salem State, 4-2, in the opening round of the LEC Tournament before falling to eventual champion Rhode Island College, 4-0, in the semifinals.
The Corsairs return five of their six singles starters, led by Mya Dean, who competed primarily at No. 2 singles and earned multiple LEC Rookie of the Week honors during her first collegiate season. Alyson Tobias, Sofia Beltran Fuenzalida, Gianna Doiron and Ava Aguiar also return, while Lauren Burgess is back after missing much of last season due to injury. UMass Dartmouth also welcomes a group of newcomers led by Magali Breur, an international student-athlete from the Netherlands who is expected to make an immediate impact in the Corsairs' lineup.
Western Connecticut Selected Fifth
Western Connecticut was picked fifth with 30 points after finishing 4-14 overall and 1-7 in conference play last season. The Wolves finished outside the six-team LEC Tournament field.
WestConn returns Erickah Tertulien, Eilynn Pierre and Kate Robinson while adding Caroline Illescas, Keira Hammond and Sharee Priar. After dealing with limited depth last season, the Wolves enter 2026 with a 13-player roster and increased competition throughout the lineup as they look to return to the LEC Tournament.
Southern Maine Rounds Out Projected Tournament Field
Southern Maine earned 26 points to take sixth in the preseason poll after finishing 4-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play last season. The Huskies earned the No. 6 seed in the LEC Tournament before falling to eventual runner-up UMass Boston in the opening round.
Southern Maine enters 2026 in a rebuilding season after graduating four seniors from last year's roster. Alexis Hayward returns for the Huskies, while Willa Wilson is expected back after missing time due to injury. The Huskies also add several newcomers, including Chloe Turner, Katharine Dallaire and Adia Amesbury, as they look to replace several key pieces from last year's lineup.
Plymouth State, Salem State and Castleton Complete Poll
Plymouth State was selected seventh with 21 points after finishing 3-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play last season. The Panthers return Chloe Ahern, Sofia Orama and Lauryn Corrigan from last season's lineup. Corrigan posted a 3-3 singles record, while Ahern and Orama gained experience near the top of the lineup. Plymouth State enters the season with a small but experienced returning group after losing three singles starters.
Salem State earned 20 points to place eighth after finishing 5-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play last season. The Vikings return Ryann Tripp but will otherwise feature a significantly different lineup in 2026 after losing their No. 1, No. 2 and No. 5 singles players to graduation, while injuries and transfers also impacted the roster. Salem State welcomes a large group of new players, including first-years Grace Baldassi and Zaylia Long.
Vermont State Castleton rounds out the poll in ninth with 13 points after finishing 1-8 overall and 0-8 in LEC play. The Spartans return just two players from last year's roster in Olivia Rutkowski and Andrea Rodriguez. Rutkowski went 1-7 in singles and 2-9 in doubles last season, while Rodriguez posted a 2-3 singles record and 2-5 mark in doubles. Castleton adds eight new players, including transfers Brooke Hecker and Grace Pluff. Hecker was a First Team All-State selection during her high school career in Vermont, while Pluff arrives from Simmons after being part of the program's first North Atlantic Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance.