NEW YORK – UConn senior Olivia Wright headlines the 2025 BIG EAST Women’s Tennis All-Conference awards after being unanimously recognized as the league’s Player of the Year, as announced by the conference on Thursday. Husky head coach Glenn Marshall led the Coaching Staff of the Year. Xavier rookie Maddie Rexroat rounded out the major awards, earning Freshman of the Year honors.
Wright was joined on the All-BIG EAST first team by Butler’s Chase Metcalf, Creighton’s Bianca Rademacher, DePaul’s Hannah Smith, Villanova’s Sophia Edwards, and Xavier’s Abby Nugent. Wright, Metcalf, Edwards, and Nugent were unanimous selections.
The All-BIG EAST Second Team featured DePaul’s Sasha Stula, Georgetown’s Emily Novikov, St. John’s Victoria Papadopoulou and Noemi Babikova, as well as Xavier’s Elizabeth Pendergast and Maddie Rexroat.
Wright, Smith, and Novikov earned All-BIG EAST recognition for the second consecutive season.
Competing at No. 1 singles, Wright owned a 14-5 record this spring including an 8-2 mark in conference play. Additionally, she boasted a 16-2 record on the top doubles court. The senior was recognized as the BIG EAST Singles Player of the Week twice this season (3/11 & 3/31). She is a two-time unanimous All-BIG EAST First Team selection. Wright is the first Husky in program history to be named BIG EAST Player of the Year.
Marshall, whose coaching staff includes graduate assistant Nansi Toskova, led UConn to a historic season including the program’s first No. 1 seed at the BIG EAST Championship. During the regular season, the Huskies owned a program best 15-4 overall record and 9-1 mark in BIG EAST action. Key wins included the team’s first ever victories over Xavier (4-3, 3/6), DePaul (5-2, 4/4), and St. John’s (4-3, 4/13). On March 30, Marshall earned his 500th career win – a 6-1 victory over Butler. After 33 years at the Huskies’ helm, Marshall announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2025 campaign.
Rexroat enjoyed a standout rookie campaign, going 14-5 while competing at No. 2 and No. 3 singles for the five-time reigning BIG EAST Champions. She was undefeated in singles play against conference opponents. In doubles action, she went 5-5 while competing at No. 2 and No. 3. At the 2025 BIG EAST Championship, Rexroat clinched the Musketeers fifth consecutive title with a three-set victory on the third court. She is the fifth Musketeers to earn BIG EAST Freshman of the Year honors (2014, ’19, ’21, ’23, ‘25)
2025 BIG EAST Women’s Tennis Major Awards & All-Conference Teams
BIG EAST Player of the Year: Olivia Wright, UConn
BIG EAST Freshman of the Year: Maddie Rexroat, Xavier
BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year: UConn
All-BIG EAST First Team
Chase Metcalf, Butler*
Olivia Wright, UConn*
Bianca Rademacher, Creighton
Hannah Smith, DePaul
Sophia Edwards, Villanova*
Abby Nugent, Xavier*
*denotes unanimous selection
All-BIG EAST Second Team
Sasha Stula, DePaul
Emily Novikov, Georgetown
Victoria Papadopoulou, St. John’s
Noemi Babikova, St. John’s
Elizabeth Pendergast, Xavier
Maddie Rexroat, Xavier