The Sharks are national champions again. On Saturday, May 23, in the desert heat of Surprise, Arizona, No. 3 Nova Southeastern took down No. 4 Catawba 4-1 to capture the 2026 NCAA Division II women’s tennis team championship — the program’s second crown in just three seasons.
After watching the title slip away in last year’s final, this group came back and finished the job.
A program that just won’t leave the final
Make no mistake: this is a dynasty in the making. The win sends Nova Southeastern to its fourth straight national championship match — runner-up in 2023, champions in 2024, runner-up again in 2025, and now back on top in 2026. Under tenth-year head coach Doug Neagle, the Sharks have turned the DII title match into their home away from home.
Punched in the mouth, punched right back
Catawba came in red-hot — a 25-2 season with both losses coming against, you guessed it, Nova Southeastern. And the Indians struck first, grabbing the doubles point to open the final 1-0. It was the exact same script as their February meeting.
The Sharks didn’t blink. Just like that February match, they answered the doubles setback by taking over singles from top to bottom.
The singles sweep
Nova Southeastern seized control fast. At No. 1, Kristyna Hranacova dispatched Catawba’s Sofia Antolini in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3. On Court 4, Noemie Dadoun was even more ruthless, rolling 6-2, 6-0. Jana Boegner doubled the lead at No. 5 with a 6-3, 6-2 win, and suddenly the Sharks were one point from glory.
Markus slams the door
The clincher belonged to Katja Markus on Court 2. Locked in a battle with Catawba’s Hanna Bougouffa, Markus dug out of a tight first set, taking the tiebreak 7-2, then closed out the second 6-4 to set off the Sharks’ celebration. Teammates Amina Sagadiyeva (up 5-0 in the third) and Chloe Henderson were both cruising in unfinished matches when the title was secured — this one was never really in doubt once singles began.
Florida’s tennis crown
The championship capped a dominant weekend for Florida tennis, and cemented Nova Southeastern’s standing as one of the premier programs in the country. Second title in three years, four straight finals — the Sharks aren’t going anywhere.
Back where they belong
The trophy is back in the Sharks’ hands, the program’s reputation only grows, and a roster that refused to fold delivered when it counted most.
Go Sharks. 🦈 Fire up the champs and fuel their NIL on RallyFuel.
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