PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Oct. 29, 2026) – Senior Zainab Patel (Ahmedabad, India) earned Singles Player of the Year honors and head coach Malcolm Neville was named Co-Coach of the Year as the Little East Conference (LEC) announced the women's tennis postseason awards on Thursday afternoon.

Patel and junior Tatiana Malone (South Dennis, Mass.) were also named the Doubles Team of the Year.

This marks the third consecutive season that Patel has received Singles Player of the Year accolades as she becomes the third student-athlete in LEC history to accomplish the feat. The Ahmedabad, India native also earned All-LEC First Team Singles honors for a third straight year.

Malone earned All-LEC Second Team recognition in singles play and First Team accolades in doubles for a second consecutive year.

This is the second time in three seasons that Patel has been named as a member of the Doubles Team of the Year after her and Lydia Chan won the inaugural award following the 2024 season.

Neville earns his second Coach of the Year award in just his third year at the helm of the Beacons after he won the award in 2024.

The trio helped lead UMass Boston to an 11-4 overall record (7-1 LEC) and an LEC championship match appearance for the fifth straight season.

Patel went unbeaten in singles play across dual matches with 13 victories at No. 1 singles, while she added a 9-2 record in No. 1 doubles with Malone.

Malone notched eight singles wins this fall including three wins apiece at second and third singles.

First-year Delilah Castro (Horizon City, Texas) was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.

Click here to view the full 2026 LEC Women's Tennis All-Conference honorees.

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