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BETHLEHEM, Pa. \u2014\u00a0Bucknell\u00a0received two of the four 2026 Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis major awards, while\u00a0Lehigh and\u00a0Navy\u00a0each claimed one, as the League office announced the All-Patriot League teams and major awards on Friday.<\/p>\n
Bucknell senior\u00a0Amar Tahirovic\u00a0was named the 2026 Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Player of the Year after posting a 19\u20133 record at No. 1 singles, including a 6\u20131 mark against League opponents with 18 straight-set victories.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tahirovic also teamed with\u00a0Brendan McDonald\u00a0to earn Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Doubles Team of the Year honors after going 11\u20132 at No. 1 doubles. McDonald (96) and Tahirovic (92) will graduate ranked first and second, respectively, on Bucknell\u2019s career doubles wins list.<\/p>\n
Lehigh first-year Aleksandar Daskalovic\u00a0was named Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Rookie of the Year after finishing 7\u20136 in singles, including a perfect 3\u20130 Patriot League regular season record and a 2\u20131 postseason mark.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Navy\u00a0coaching staff, led by head coach\u00a0Chris Garner, was named Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the Mids to a 27\u201317 overall record en route to winning their 16th\u00a0title in program history.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seven of the League\u2019s nine teams were represented across the two All-League teams. Army West Point and Navy each had three selections, Bucknell and Lehigh had two selections, while Lafayette, Holy Cross and Loyola Maryland each had one.\u00a0
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\nThe major awards and All-League teams are voted on by the League\u2019s nine head coaches,\u00a0who are not permitted to vote for their student-athletes or themselves.<\/p>\n
2026 Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Player of the Year
\nAmar Tahirovic, Bucknell, Sr., Stuttgart, Germany\/Stuttgart
\n*Tahirovic posted a 19\u20133 record at No. 1 singles, including 6\u20131 vs. Patriot League opponents with 18 straight-set wins.
\n*He earned wins over multiple top opponents, with his only losses coming against Columbia, Stetson and Army West Point.
\n*Tahirovic broke Bucknell\u2019s career record for singles wins (113) and combined wins (205) and ends his career as a four-time First Team All-League and the 2025 and 2026 Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Player of the Year.<\/p>\n
2026 Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Doubles Team of the Year
\nAmar Tahirovic \/ Brendan McDonald, Bucknell
\n*Tahirovic and McDonald went 11\u20132 at No. 1 doubles, including two Patriot League wins, with their only losses coming against No. 10 Columbia and Temple.
\n*McDonald (96) and Tahirovic (92) graduate ranked number one and two respectively on Bucknell\u2019s career doubles wins list.<\/p>\n
2026 Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Rookie of the Year
\nAleksandar Daskalovic, Lehigh, Fy., Belgrade, Serbia\/Poslovno Technicka Skola
\n*Daskalovic\u00a0finished 7\u20136 in singles, including a perfect 3\u20130 Patriot League regular season record and 2\u20131 postseason mark.
\n*The first-year went 5\u20132 at No. 3 singles while also contributing across Nos. 4 and 5 in the lineup.
\n*Daskalovic\u00a0picked up key wins over Navy, Loyola Maryland, Bucknell and Lafayette, and added a 2\u20133 doubles record with time at line two and three.<\/p>\n
2026 Patriot League Women\u2019s Tennis Coaching Staff of the Year
\nNavy \u2013 Head Coach Chris Garner
\n*Garner led Navy to a 27\u201317 overall record and a 6\u20131 mark in Patriot League play.
\n*Guided the Mids to the No. 2 seed and a 4\u20132 victory over No. 1 Lehigh in the championship match.
\n*Secured the program\u2019s 16th\u00a0Patriot League title and first since 2023.
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\n2026 Patriot League Men\u2019s Tennis Major Awards
\nPlayer of the Year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Amar Tahirovic, Bucknell
\nDoubles Team of the Year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Amar Tahirovic and Brendan McDonald, Bucknell
\nRookie of the Year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Aleksandar Daskalovic, Lehigh
\nCoaching Staff of the Year\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Navy, Head Coach Chris Garner<\/p>\n
Men\u2019s Tennis First Team All-League
\nJackson Armistead, Army West Point
\nJimin Jung, Army West Point\u00a0
\nAmar Tahirovic, Bucknell
\nAlex Van Lumich, Lehigh
\nHerrick Legaspi, Navy
\nCharlie Spencer, Navy\u00a0
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\nMen\u2019s Tennis All-League Second Team*
\nAlan Ton, Army West Point\u00a0
\nLiam Kilmer, Bucknell
\nRicky Espaillat, Lafayette
\nMatt Carlson, Holy Cross
\nSean Jaeger, Lehigh
\nPetter Hagen, Loyola Maryland\u00a0
\nJJ Etterbeek, Navy\u00a0
\n*Additional members added due to tie in voting\u00a0
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\nABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE<\/a>
\nThe Patriot League\u00a0<\/a>is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League\u2019s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.\u00a0
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\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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