Tempe, AZ – The Intercollegiate Tennis Association (“ITA”) is pleased to announce the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’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 NAIA 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 Senior, ITA Senior Player of the Year, and the ITA Player to Watch.
Continue reading below to find out more about each of the 2026 ITA National Award winners:
ITA/Dunlop Coach of the Year
Francisco Gallardo | Tennessee Wesleyan University
Francisco Gallardo from Tennessee Wesleyan University has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Coach of the Year. Turning the Tennessee Wesleyan team into one of the top program’s in all of NAIA tennis, Gallardo showed no signs of slowing down this season, dominating once again for a large part of the season. Going 22-3 on the season, Gallardo helped lead the Bulldogs to both the ITA Team Indoor Championship and NAIA National Championship finals this season. Additionally, Tennessee Wesleyan claimed both the AAC regular season and conference tournament titles this season which marked the sixth straight year in which they have done so. Gallardo was named the AAC Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career this season. In addition to his on-court success, Gallardo is very active in his community and has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for his program and upgrades to facilities on campus.
ITA Assistant Coach of the Year
Emily Harris | Arizona Christian University
Emily Harris from Arizona Christian University has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year. As an integral part of a banner year for Arizona Christian, Harris was right there for every step of the process helping in numerous areas of coaching and mentorship. Helping coach the team to a 14-6 record this season after going 15-19 the past two years combined, Harris and the Arizona Christian team won their first conference championship since 2019 and earned their highest team ranking since 2019 as well. With a roster of 18 players, Harris was able to assist at practice each day, allowing the team to focus on smaller groups at at time. In addition to being the assistant coach on the tennis team, Harris also serves as an assistant athletic director at Arizona Christian and regularly puts in 60-70 hour work weeks doing both roles. In addition to on-court coaching, Harris also leads the team in mental skill training every year and is there if any players need to process stress, pressure, or frustration that they might be feeling. Her actions both on and off the court helped the team achieve new heights this season, and her efforts helped all of the athletes grow and mature every day.
ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award
Jack Hanson | Kansas Wesleyan University
Jack Hanson from Kansas Wesleyan University has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner. As a two-year captain for the Kansas Wesleyan team, Hanson has been a leader both on and off the court during his time as a student-athlete. Leading by example when his team needs him the most, Hanson is a three-time KCAC medalist in No. 6 singles as well as No. 1 doubles. Off the court, Hanson is pursuing a degree in Biology where he has maintained scholar-athlete status over his career. After graduation, Hanson plans to attend chiropractic college in Dallas where he intends to continue to serve others through his profession. In the community, Hanson serves as the head tennis professional at the Salina Tennis Alliance, growing the game of tennis and mentoring young players in the community.
ITA Rookie of the Year
Cristhian Sanchez | Xavier University of Louisiana
Cristhian Sanchez from Xavier University of Louisiana has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Rookie of the Year. Not arriving to the team until the start of the spring season, Sanchez joined the XULA program and made an immediate impact. Jumping to the No. 2 singles position upon arrival, Sanchez helped bolster the XULA lineup throughout the season, competing at No. 1 doubles as well with Nero Suarez. Ranked in the Top Ten of the ITA Singles and Doubles Rankings, Sanchez was twice named the RRAC Men’s Tennis Player of the Week this season. Additionally, Sanchez held a 15 match singles win streak this season and defeated numerous ranked opponents in both singles and doubles throughout the year.
ITA Co-Most Improved Player
Oscar Wai | Holy Cross College
Oscar Wai from Holy Cross College has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Co-Most Improved Player. Slotted in as the No. 3-4 singles player in the Holy Cross lineup last season, Wai has made a huge jump this season, moving all the way up to No. 1 in the lineup and being ranked Top Ten in the country for his success. The junior from Hong Kong has compiled an impressive 20-6 mark this season in singles play across the fall and the spring. This spring Wai has only lost one match to an NAIA opponent and was a large reason why the Holy Cross team returned to the NAIA National Championships this May in Mobile.
ITA Co-Most Improved Player
Fenosoa Rasendra | Arizona Christian University
Fenosoa Rasendra from Arizona Christian University has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Co-Most Improved Player. Seeing growth in all aspects of his game this season, Rasendra has shown he can compete with some of the best players at the NAIA level. Playing primarily No. 3 doubles and No. 3-5 singles, Rasendra has totaled a 25-3 record this spring across both singles and doubles after going 12-12 in 2024 and 11-11 last season. Coming into this season, Rasendra had a WTN rating of 20.37 and over the course of the fall and spring improved his rating by two full points, ending the season with a rating of 18.27 in singles. His efforts and improvement helped Arizona Christian achieve their best season since 2019, and their first conference title since that same year as well.
ITA Senior Player of the Year
Hugo Abril | Arizona Christian University
Hugo Abril from Arizona Christian University has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Senior Player of the Year. At the top of the lineup for the Arizona Christian team who achieved their best year as a program since the 2019 season, Abril has dominated competition all season long. At the No. 1 singles position, Abril has gone 15-2 this season and has beaten numerous ranked opponents along the way. As a strong doubles player as well, Abril only has two losses on the season to fellow NAIA opponents. This past fall, Abril defended his ITA Singles and Doubles Regional Titles, earning his place at the ITA Cup for the second straight year. Abril was named the GSAC Player of the Year and is a three-time NAIA All-American. Abril also serves as a team captain for Arizona Christian and is widely considered one of the hardest workers on the entire team.
ITA Co-Player to Watch
Matt Jezyk | Holy Cross College
Matt Jezyk from Holy Cross College has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Co-Player to Watch. As a key piece to the Holy Cross team this season, Jezyk has stepped into an even bigger role this season playing primarily from the No. 2 doubles and No. 3 singles position this spring. Helping the Holy Cross team back to the NAIA National Championships this May, Jezyk helped his team to a 15-4 overall record this season and a NAIA Round of Sixteen finish. Holy Cross and Jezyk once again claimed the CCAC Tournament Title and his improvement this year was a big reason for the continued success.
ITA Co-Player to Watch
Matthew Dubas | Keiser University
Matthew Dubas from Keiser University has been named the 2026 ITA NAIA Men’s Co-Player to Watch. Coming to Keiser in the spring after transferring from a Division I program, Dubas made the transition seamlessly and immediately made his presence felt. In singles, Dubas settled in primary at the No. 5 singles position this spring and went 8-1 overall. As one of the nation’s top doubles players, Dubas slotted right in to the No. 1 doubles position upon arrival and went 15-1 this spring from the top position. To end the season, Dubas ranks No. 5 in the ITA NAIA Doubles Rankings and is primed to grow even further in years to come.
