Jackson State Dominates SWAC Women’s Tennis Awards

NEW ORLEANS — The Southwestern Athletic Conference announced its 2026 women’s tennis individual award winners Thursday, with Jackson State earning three honors. Head coach Stas Smirnov was named Coach of the Year, Player of the Year went to Paula Corbalan, and Victoria Linkovski was recognized as Newcomer of the Year.

Smirnov, in his first season coaching the Tigers, led the team to a 12-10 overall record and an undefeated 8-0 mark in SWAC regular-season play. Under his leadership, Jackson State secured its third consecutive regular-season title and earned the top seed in the conference tournament.

Corbalan, a junior, went 5-0 against SWAC opponents, with wins over Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, and Bethune-Cookman. She also posted two additional victories outside conference play. Paired with Isabella Benavides, Corbalan finished the season with an 8-7 overall record, including a 5-1 mark in league matches.

Linkovski, a sophomore transfer from Delaware State, made an immediate impact by going undefeated in conference play. She also teamed with Helen Hernandez in doubles, finishing 9-5 overall and 4-2 in SWAC competition. The Tigers’ success reflects the strong individual performances recognized by the conference.

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