University of Richmond Athletics
Bakhaya, Barbulescu Named to A-10 Preseason All-Conference Team; Spiders Tabbed Third in Poll
02/12/2026 | Women's Tennis
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of Richmond women's tennis team was selected to finish third in the 2026 Atlantic 10 Conference Preseason Poll, the league office announced Thursday, while senior Lara Bakhaya and sophomore Sofia Barbulescu earned spots on the Preseason All-Conference Team.
Richmond totaled 122 points in the poll, trailing VCU with 132 points and six first-place votes and Fordham with 126 points and five first-place votes. Rhode Island was fourth with 100 points and one first-place vote, followed by Davidson with 97. George Washington, Duquesne, Saint Louis, Dayton, Saint Joseph's, St. Bonaventure and George Mason rounded out the poll.
Bakhaya returns after a standout junior campaign in 2025 that saw her earn Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team honors. She posted a 13-4 singles record, primarily competing at No. 3 and No. 4, and closed the season by winning seven of her final eight completed matches. Bakhaya also compiled a 16-7 doubles mark, primarily on court No. 1, including a nine-match win streak from March 22 through April 25. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week selection and helped guide the Spiders to a 16-7 overall record, an 11-match win streak and a second-straight appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship final.
Barbulescu continues to build on an impressive start to her collegiate career. As a freshman in 2025, she earned Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team honors while competing exclusively at No. 1 singles, finishing 9-9 overall. She claimed a ranked victory over No. 39 Claudia De Las Heras of San Diego at the Conference Masters Tournament, marking the program's first ranked singles win in more than two decades. Barbulescu also went 13-7 in doubles action and delivered a key win in the Atlantic 10 Championship semifinal. During the 2025 fall season, Barbulescu captured the ITA Hall of Fame Classic Green Draw title and defeated No. 76 Esha Velaga of Penn in the Tribe Invitational.
The Spiders picked up a 6-1 victory over UNC Greensboro on Feb. 11, securing their first dual match victory of the spring. Richmond returns to action Feb. 14 for an 11 a.m. start at Maryland before hosting William and Mary on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Raintree Swim and Racquet Club.
2026 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1.VCU 132 (6)
2.Fordham 126 (5)
3.Richmond 122
4.Rhode Island 100 (1)
5.Davidson 97
6.George Washington 81
7.Duquesne 65
8.Saint Louis 60
9.Dayton 47
10.Saint Joseph's 43
11.St. Bonaventure 34
12.George Mason 29
2026 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Preseason All-Conference Team
Savanna Kollock, Davidson
Bryson Langford, Davidson
Valerija Kargina, Fordham
Nevena Kolarevic, Fordham
Julianne Nguyen, Fordham
Cenan Liu, George Mason
Nikki Fernando, Rhode Island
Lara Bakhaya, Richmond
Sofia Barbulescu, Richmond
Mariam Ibrahim, VCU
Tania Isabel Andrade, VCU
Sofia Thorne, VCU
Richmond totaled 122 points in the poll, trailing VCU with 132 points and six first-place votes and Fordham with 126 points and five first-place votes. Rhode Island was fourth with 100 points and one first-place vote, followed by Davidson with 97. George Washington, Duquesne, Saint Louis, Dayton, Saint Joseph's, St. Bonaventure and George Mason rounded out the poll.
Bakhaya returns after a standout junior campaign in 2025 that saw her earn Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team honors. She posted a 13-4 singles record, primarily competing at No. 3 and No. 4, and closed the season by winning seven of her final eight completed matches. Bakhaya also compiled a 16-7 doubles mark, primarily on court No. 1, including a nine-match win streak from March 22 through April 25. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Week selection and helped guide the Spiders to a 16-7 overall record, an 11-match win streak and a second-straight appearance in the Atlantic 10 Championship final.
Barbulescu continues to build on an impressive start to her collegiate career. As a freshman in 2025, she earned Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team honors while competing exclusively at No. 1 singles, finishing 9-9 overall. She claimed a ranked victory over No. 39 Claudia De Las Heras of San Diego at the Conference Masters Tournament, marking the program's first ranked singles win in more than two decades. Barbulescu also went 13-7 in doubles action and delivered a key win in the Atlantic 10 Championship semifinal. During the 2025 fall season, Barbulescu captured the ITA Hall of Fame Classic Green Draw title and defeated No. 76 Esha Velaga of Penn in the Tribe Invitational.
The Spiders picked up a 6-1 victory over UNC Greensboro on Feb. 11, securing their first dual match victory of the spring. Richmond returns to action Feb. 14 for an 11 a.m. start at Maryland before hosting William and Mary on Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Raintree Swim and Racquet Club.
2026 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Preseason Poll
1.VCU 132 (6)
2.Fordham 126 (5)
3.Richmond 122
4.Rhode Island 100 (1)
5.Davidson 97
6.George Washington 81
7.Duquesne 65
8.Saint Louis 60
9.Dayton 47
10.Saint Joseph's 43
11.St. Bonaventure 34
12.George Mason 29
2026 Atlantic 10 Women's Tennis Preseason All-Conference Team
Savanna Kollock, Davidson
Bryson Langford, Davidson
Valerija Kargina, Fordham
Nevena Kolarevic, Fordham
Julianne Nguyen, Fordham
Cenan Liu, George Mason
Nikki Fernando, Rhode Island
Lara Bakhaya, Richmond
Sofia Barbulescu, Richmond
Mariam Ibrahim, VCU
Tania Isabel Andrade, VCU
Sofia Thorne, VCU
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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