NEW ORLEANS, La. | The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) announced its 2026 women's tennis individual award winners Thursday, with Jackson State claiming three: Stas Smirnov (Coach of the Year), Paula Corbalan (Player of the Year), and Victoria Linkovski (Newcomer of the Year).

Smirnov, in his first season as the head coach at Jackson State, has led the team to a 12-10 record and a perfect 8-0 regular season record in the SWAC. The Tigers extended their regular-season dominance to a third regular-season title and claimed the number one seed heading into the postseason tournament.

Corbalan was 5-0 against SWAC competition and clinched wins against Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn, and Bethune-Cookman. She also added two more wins against non-conference opponents. Her pairing alongside Isabella Benavides yielded an 8-7 record overall, with a 5-1 record in SWAC competition.

Linkvoski, a transfer from Delaware State, made an immediate impact in her first season with the Tigers, finishing the season with an undefeated record in conference play. She also found success in doubles competition with Helen Hernandez, as the duo had a 9-5 overall record and a 4-2 SWAC record.

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