Connell Tabbed Coach of the Year Highlights CUSA Postseason Honors
4/28/2026 12:59:00 PM | Women's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty Head Coach Dash Connell was named the 2026 Conference USA Coach of the Year, headlining 10 awards the team received on Tuesday. Milana Tsulygina was named the Freshman of the Year, while Maria Turchetto was named the Singles Player of the Championship and the pair of Turchetto and Yoanna Radulova was tabbed the Doubles Team of the Championship.
Connell led Liberty to its first-ever conference title in his second year at the helm in Lynchburg. The team began the tournament in the first round, securing four wins in four consecutive dates, ultimately topping Delaware 4-0 in the title game.
Two Lady Flames, Daniella O'Neill and Turchetto, were named to the CUSA All-Conference Singles first team. In addition to being the CUSA Freshman of the Year, Tsulygina was also chosen to the CUSA All-Conference Singles second team.
In addition, the team's No. 1 pair of Turchetto and Radulova were selected to the CUSA All-Conference Doubles first team. The team's No. 2 pair of O'Neill and Tsulygina were named to the CUSA All-Conference Doubles second team.
Liberty (16-9) is set to take on Washington (19-5) in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship. The team will be making its first-ever appearance in the national tournament.
Dash Connell—CUSA Coach of the Year
Maria Turchetto—Junior—Singles Player of the Championship, Singles First Team
Milana Tsulygina—Freshman—CUSA Freshman of the Year, Singles Second Team, All-Freshman Team
Daniella O'Neill—Redshirt Junior—All-Conference Singles First Team
Maria Turchetto/Yoanna Radulova—Doubles Team of the Championship, Doubles First Team
Daniella O'Neill/Milana Tsulygina—Doubles Second Team
Connell led Liberty to its first-ever conference title in his second year at the helm in Lynchburg. The team began the tournament in the first round, securing four wins in four consecutive dates, ultimately topping Delaware 4-0 in the title game.
Two Lady Flames, Daniella O'Neill and Turchetto, were named to the CUSA All-Conference Singles first team. In addition to being the CUSA Freshman of the Year, Tsulygina was also chosen to the CUSA All-Conference Singles second team.
In addition, the team's No. 1 pair of Turchetto and Radulova were selected to the CUSA All-Conference Doubles first team. The team's No. 2 pair of O'Neill and Tsulygina were named to the CUSA All-Conference Doubles second team.
Liberty (16-9) is set to take on Washington (19-5) in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Tennis Championship. The team will be making its first-ever appearance in the national tournament.
Dash Connell—CUSA Coach of the Year
- Led Liberty to its first-ever conference title in 26 seasons as a program, securing the 2026 CUSA title in his second season at Liberty
- Finished with a 16-9 record
- Led Liberty to four wins in four days en route to the 2026 CUSA Championship title
- Went 6-1 at home, including a 7-0 home victory vs. Delaware
Maria Turchetto—Junior—Singles Player of the Championship, Singles First Team
- Finished the year with a 12-7 record, wrapping the season in the No. 2 singles position
- Earned a 6–2 mark at No. 2 singles and a 6-7 mark at No. 3
- Earned a 2-0 record in singles at the CUSA Championship, clinching both the semifinal and the title match
- In the most pivotal match of the event vs. FIU in the No. 2 singles spot, faced a 5-2 deficit in the third set with the dual score tied at 3-3. Rallied for three straight games, eventually forcing a tiebreak. Came back from down 4-1 in the breaker to advance Liberty to the final with a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (5) triumph
- Topped Delaware 6-3, 6-3, securing the title-winning fourth point to earn Liberty its first-ever conference title.
Milana Tsulygina—Freshman—CUSA Freshman of the Year, Singles Second Team, All-Freshman Team
- Led Liberty with an 18-7 record, including a 4-0 mark at No. 3 singles and an 11-3 record at No. 4 singles
- Went 4-0 in singles in the CUSA Championship
- Earned a 14-8 record playing No. 2 doubles (13-8)
Daniella O'Neill—Redshirt Junior—All-Conference Singles First Team
- Finished the year with a 12-8 record and 10-7 record in the No. 1 singles position.
- Sported a 10-8 mark in the No. 2 singles slot
- Topped No. 29 Charlotte's Ni Xi at No. 1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3
- Owned a six-match winning streak at No. 1 singles (March 6-March 29)
- Named the CUSA Athlete of the Week on Feb. 11
Maria Turchetto/Yoanna Radulova—Doubles Team of the Championship, Doubles First Team
- Finished the year with a 12-8 record with all matches in the No. 1 doubles position
- Went 4-0 in the CUSA Championship, including a 7-6 (6) triumph to earn the doubles point vs. Kennesaw State
- Two-time CUSA Doubles Pair of the Week (Jan. 28, March 4)
Daniella O'Neill/Milana Tsulygina—Doubles Second Team
- Finished the year with a 14-8 record together, including a 13-8 record in the No. 2 doubles position
- Earned a 3-1 record in the CUSA Championship
Players Mentioned
Carl Roothman & Coach Schwandt Talk About Preparing For The CUSA Tournament
Wednesday, April 15
Coach Connell & Daniella O'Neill Garcia Give An Update On The Women's Tennis Season
Thursday, April 09
Coach Schwandt & Benjamin Sparks Talk About The Win Over Elon
Saturday, April 04
Coach Connell Talks About The Win Over Delaware
Saturday, January 24