Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is pleased to announce the 2026 ITA CCCAA Women’s National Award recipients. Every year the ITA recognizes coaches and student-athletes for their excellence both on the court and in their communities throughout the season.
The CCCAA national awards include: ITA Dunlop/Coach of the Year, ITA Assistant Coach of the Year, Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award, ITA Rookie of the Year, ITA Most Improved Sophomore, and the ITA Sophomore Player of the Year.
Continue reading below to find out more about each of the 2026 ITA National Award winners:
ITA Dunlop/Coach of the Year
Joe Cascione | Los Angeles Mission College
Joe Cascione from Los Angeles Mission College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Women’s Coach of the Year. In his fifth year leading the LA Mission program, Cascione has reached new heights in 2026 after launching the program in 2022. Across the season, Cascione and the Eagles went a perfect 25-0, dominating nearly all of the matches played. Known as a program builder, Cascione has poured his life into LA Mission College as he also has won two Western State Conference Coach of the Year honors in Baseball. LA Mission earned the No. 1 seed in the Southern California Community College tennis playoffs earlier this April. Cascione and the LA Mission team just capped off their season by winning the 2026 CCCAA State Championship, the highest accomplishment a team can achieve.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Alex Lopez | Modesto Junior College
Alex Lopez from Modesto Junior College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Being a staple of the Modesto tennis program for many years now, Lopez has built strong connections within the Modesto team that has helped cultivate a dedicated and focused work ethic amongst the players he leads. As a coach, Lopez prioritizes each players individual needs and has helped the Modesto team improve as the season progresses numerous times throughout his time with the program. Lopez is known to be there whenever the team needs him, and has dedicated countless hours to the Modesto program and its athletes.
ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Odessa Peinado | City College of San Francisco
Odessa Peinado from the City College of San Francisco has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Women’s Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. Serving as a leader both on and off the courts for City College of San Francisco, Peinado has worked hard to become a role model both for her teammates and those around her during her career. On the court, Peinado went 16-7 across singles and doubles this season, playing from the top singles spot. In the community, Peinado spends time volunteering with a local organization Hope for Kids (HFK) which aims to “Teach the Eternal Joy of Service”. Additionally, Peinado serves as a team captain for San Francisco which speaks to her character and impact as a first year player.
ITA Rookie of the Year
Emma Chodur | College of the Canyons
Emma Chodur from the College of the Canyons has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Women’s Rookie of the Year. Entering college with little to no acclimation period needed, Chodur has impressed throughout her freshman campaign with the Cougars. Winning the 2025 ITA Regional Singles Championship, Chodur only dropped two sets across all play this season en route to an impressive 28-1 record. Chodur was named the Western State Conference Player of the Year and won the Singles and Doubles Championships at the Western State Conference Individual Championships. Chodur was ranked No. 1 in the latest ITA CCCAA SoCal Region Singles Rankings and is largely considered one of the top junior college players in the nation.
ITA Most Improved Sophomore
Naomi Pavletich | Bakersfield College
Naomi Pavletich from Bakersfield College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Women’s Most Improved Sophomore. Being a part of a Bakersfield team that reached the CCCAA State Championship Finals during her freshman campaign, Pavletich was asked to take on a new role this season for the Renegade and continued to flourish. Playing from the No. 4 singles position last season, Pavletich made the jump to No. 1 singles this season. Ranked as high as No. 8 in the latest ITA CCCAA SoCal Region Rankings, Pavletich has become one of the top players across the CCCAA and has shown great improvements from her freshman year to her sophomore year.
ITA Sophomore Player of the Year
Mina Koloski | Chabot College
Mina Koloski from Chabot College has been named the 2026 ITA CCCAA Women’s Sophomore Player of the Year. As the defending CCCAA State Singles Champion, Koloski entered her sophomore season with a large target on her back and hasn’t shown any signs of backing down. Still yet to lose a singles match across her career, Koloski went 20-0 as a freshman and has backed that up with a 20-0 regular season record this season. As the No. 1 ranked singles player in the latest ITA CCCAA NorCal Region Rankings, Koloski will look to defend her State Championship later this week in Ojai, California.
