Averett Tennis Takes on the 2026 Season
Women’s Tennis
The Averett University women’s tennis team is entering the new season with momentum and determination after finishing 16-5 during the 2025 season and advancing to the ODAC Conference Championship. The Cougars season ended with a loss to Washington and Lee in the final match, a result that has fueled the team throughout the offseason.
Ella Boddington, a junior from Nottingham, England, says her team created a goal to approach the new season with a developed and balanced mindset.
“I think to just have fun, but always looking to improve from the offseason and last season, and take every match as it comes, giving respect to our opponents but not letting their talents and abilities dictate how we play on the court before the matches have started,” Boddington said.
The mentality was a focus throughout the offseason for the Cougars. Players worked individually on their own game, while putting a group emphasis on intensity while preparing for their upcoming matches.
“In the offseason, we all work on things as individuals, but also push each other as teammates as well,” Boddington said. “For my offseason, I worked to keep my shoulder fit and healthy, and improve my doubles skills and service direction. As a team, our main focus was intensity and getting game-ready by not wasting any time on court if we went down during practice hours.”
While last season’s loss weighed on the Cougar team, it pushed them to strive for more and created a sense of determination and strength in the offseason.
“Last season definitely left us with the lesson that we have to always give 110% and that a match is not won or lost before the match has even started,” Boddington said. “This is definitely the mentality we are bringing into this season specifically.”
This being said, the Averett women’s tennis team is well aware that the road to a championship will most likely lead them back to Washington and Lee.
“We always look forward to the matchup against Washington and Lee; they are the people to beat in our conference if we want to come away with the ring,” Boddington said. “They are always tough matches, and we really test ourselves against them.”
Outside of match results, it is important to note the close bond that the team shares. With a group composed entirely of international student athletes, there is a unique connection between teammates, creating a home away from home. The unity is shown publicly during matches.
“When people watch this team play this season, I hope they notice how much we support each other when others are playing,” Boddington said. “We do not get many fans to our games, so being a small team, we are supportive and loud towards our teammates, but for the hours that we spend down at the courts, during matches we always stand and cheer for each other.”
With the hope to turn last season’s lessons into a championship title, the Averett University women’s tennis team enters the 2026 season full of experience, determination, and hunger.
Men’s Tennis
The Averett University men’s tennis team enters the new season with a target on their backs after finishing 17-5 in the 2025 season and winning the ODAC Conference Championship title against rivals Washington and Lee. As defending conference champions, the Cougars are prepared to raise their standards.
Alex Donnelly, a senior from Naas, Ireland, has taken note of the team’s rising expectations.
“There’s an expectation there to win every match we play,” Donelly said. “It is a great feeling to come into the season as champions because we know everybody wants to beat us. It’s a great pressure to have; there’s something you need to back up after such an amazing season; getting the national ranking, winning the ODAC; it’s just a surreal, but good, feeling.”
The Cougars confidence going into the 2026 season continues to develop off of the mindset created within the team throughout their last campaign.
“That winning mentality; we went into every match expecting a win, not hoping for one,” Donelly said. “I looked across the two other courts and I expected everybody to win. You have to learn that mindset, it doesn’t just happen. Carrying that mentality will bring us a lot of success coming into the season.”
Last season’s success still provided the team with a defining lesson. After falling behind 3-0 during their finals match, the Cougars persevered to secure the title.
“Especially in the ODAC, it’s never over until the last point,” Donelly said. “Even last season we were down 3-0 and an hour later we won the title. You never take anything for granted. We have to respect every team and believe you can beat the bigger ones as well.”
The success of winning the ODAC championship has brought on a new pressure to the Averett men’s tennis team. Coming into the new season with high expectations it is key to learn to turn that pressure into determination.
“There’s the pressure to perform to the same levels we did last season, which is always good, and the only way we can perform and deal with the pressure is just to go out everyday and give it all: Practice like we are going to play matches, and just once we get into them to believe in each other and believe in ourselves.”
The offseason for the Cougars brought on the loss of some key players. Despite their losses, it has created a window of opportunity for the rest of the roster to shine.
“It was obviously tough to lose players that were serial winners for us, but some of the other players really stepped up and performed,” Donelly said. “We have to build on that note and bring it into our ODAC season.”
As the team prepares to defend their title, the Cougars are focused on creating a legacy: a team that will be remembered at Averett, even when they’re gone.
“I hope people remember the consistency and the type of team we were, we were so close,” Donelly said. “Obviously it would be nice to be remembered as ODAC champions, were the first team in the men’s tennis program to be ranked in so many years. But overall, we just want to be remembered as good people.”
After an unbelievable 2025 season, the Averett men’s tennis team has prepared to defend their title and prove that after years of being just short; last season was just the beginning of their ODAC rule.
