Box Score WEST WINDSOR, N.J. – FDU women's tennis captured their seventh NEC Championship in program history on Saturday afternoon. The Knights defeated Saint Francis U 4-1 en route to securing the NEC trophy for the first time since 2016.

With the win, FDU earns the Northeast Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship. This will be the program's fifth trip to the NCAA tournament, also their first time since 2016.

Yelena Kim was named tournament MVP, while Katsiaryna Kostina and Alena Kubanova joined her on the all-tournament team.

FDU head coach Alex Cole adds a championship to an already successful first season in Hackensack. The former FDU tennis standout took over the program in the fall of 2024.

The match started with three competitive doubles matches. FDU drew first blood at no. 3 doubles as Valentina Silva and Katsiaryna Kostina defeated their opponents 6-4. On the second court Alena Kubanova and Anastasia Lim came from behind and clinched the doubles point with a 7-5 victory. Namie Isago and Yelena Kim went into a tiebreaker at no. doubles, but that match went unfinished.

Kim, who clinched yesterday's semifinal victory, was the first off the court when it came to singles. At no. 4, she coasted to a 6-1, 6-1 victory. This put FDU ahead 2-0.

Alena Kubanova was the next to finish at no. 3. She steamrolled her way through set one 6-2. The second set was competitive, but Kubanova outlasted her opponent 6-4.

While Kubanova sowed her match up, Namie Isago fell in a hard-fought battle 6-7, 3-6.

On the no. 6 court, Kostina won a thrilling first set 7-6 (7-4). She rode this momentum to a dominant 6-1 second set, which clinched FDU's seventh championship.

Silva's and Lim's singles matches went unfinished.

WHAT'S NEXT
FDU will learn their NCAA tournament fate during the NCAA Selection Show. Check back for updates.