Xavier University Athletics
Abby Nugent Unanimously Selected as BIG EAST Player of the Year
04.30.26 | Women's Tennis
Madeleine Rexroat earns First Team All-BIG EAST; Xavier earns Coaching Staff of the Year
NEW YORK - Xavier women's tennis senior Abby Nugent was unanimously selected as the 2026 BIG EASTÂ Player of the Year, as announced by the conference on Thursday. Nugent was also unanimously selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team and was joined on the First Team by sophomore Madeleine Rexroat, also a unanimous selection to the all-conference team. Additionally, Xavier's coaching staff was selected as BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year.
Major awards and All-BIG EAST Teams were selected by a vote of the league's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for themselves or their own players.
Competing at No. 1 singles, Nugent owned a 12-9 overall record while going undefeated against BIG EAST opponents (6-0). Â She was named the 2026 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player following an unblemished tournament run in both singles and doubles play.
On Feb. 6, she earned a ranked win over Michigan State's #116 Amara Brahmbhatt (6-3, 2-6, 6-4). With partner Clara Owen, the senior competed at No. 1 doubles, boasting a 16-3 record. The duo was ranked #40 in the ITA preseason rankings.
Nugent is the second Musketeer in the previous four seasons to claim BIG EAST Player of the Year recognition, joining former teammate Imani Graham, who earned the honor in back-to-back seasons (2023, 24). The 2023 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Nugent is the fourth athlete, and second Musketeer, to register both Freshman and Player of the Year honors during their career.
Rexroat has a 12-8 record for the dual season, playing primarily in the No. 2 singles spot, with a 4-0 record against BIG EAST opponents during the regular season.
The sophomore, who has been ranked as high as No. 104 in the ITA Singles Rankings this season, picked the highest ranking win in program history on Feb. 20, taking a 6-2, 4-6, 10-5 win over Vanderbilt's No. 15 Valeria Ray. Rexroat also played 14 matches in No. 2 doubles, primarily with Ella DeFord, collecting six wins.
This is the second all-conference honor of Rexroat's career, earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and All-BIG EAST Second Team honors in 2025.
Head coach and Director of Tennis Doug Matthews and his coaching staff, which includes assistants Ryan Rasco, Kara Matthews, and Cambell Nakayama, earned their fifth BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year award since Matthews took over the program in 2015. This year, Matthews led the Musketeers to their sixth-consecutive BIG EAST tournament title, matching the conference record set by Notre Dame (2008-13).
During the regular season, Xavier owned a 16-8 overall record and a perfect 4-0 mark in league play. Matthews' squad will meet Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday (May 1, 5 p.m. ET), marking the Musketeers' sixth-straight, and seventh overall, NCAA tournament appearance.
Major awards and All-BIG EAST Teams were selected by a vote of the league's head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for themselves or their own players.
Competing at No. 1 singles, Nugent owned a 12-9 overall record while going undefeated against BIG EAST opponents (6-0). Â She was named the 2026 BIG EAST Championship Most Outstanding Player following an unblemished tournament run in both singles and doubles play.
On Feb. 6, she earned a ranked win over Michigan State's #116 Amara Brahmbhatt (6-3, 2-6, 6-4). With partner Clara Owen, the senior competed at No. 1 doubles, boasting a 16-3 record. The duo was ranked #40 in the ITA preseason rankings.
Nugent is the second Musketeer in the previous four seasons to claim BIG EAST Player of the Year recognition, joining former teammate Imani Graham, who earned the honor in back-to-back seasons (2023, 24). The 2023 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, Nugent is the fourth athlete, and second Musketeer, to register both Freshman and Player of the Year honors during their career.
Rexroat has a 12-8 record for the dual season, playing primarily in the No. 2 singles spot, with a 4-0 record against BIG EAST opponents during the regular season.
The sophomore, who has been ranked as high as No. 104 in the ITA Singles Rankings this season, picked the highest ranking win in program history on Feb. 20, taking a 6-2, 4-6, 10-5 win over Vanderbilt's No. 15 Valeria Ray. Rexroat also played 14 matches in No. 2 doubles, primarily with Ella DeFord, collecting six wins.
This is the second all-conference honor of Rexroat's career, earning BIG EAST Freshman of the Year and All-BIG EAST Second Team honors in 2025.
Head coach and Director of Tennis Doug Matthews and his coaching staff, which includes assistants Ryan Rasco, Kara Matthews, and Cambell Nakayama, earned their fifth BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year award since Matthews took over the program in 2015. This year, Matthews led the Musketeers to their sixth-consecutive BIG EAST tournament title, matching the conference record set by Notre Dame (2008-13).
During the regular season, Xavier owned a 16-8 overall record and a perfect 4-0 mark in league play. Matthews' squad will meet Vanderbilt in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday (May 1, 5 p.m. ET), marking the Musketeers' sixth-straight, and seventh overall, NCAA tournament appearance.
Players Mentioned
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