Army West Point Athletics
Ruckno and Mellynchuk Named Women’s Tennis Doubles Team of the Year; Three Named to All-League Team
April 24, 2026 | Women's Tennis
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Army West Point women's tennis' Emily Ruckno and Olivia Mellynchuk have been named the Patriot League Women's Tennis Doubles Team of the Year. Additionally, three Black Knights received First or Second Team All-League accolades.
Ruckno and Mellynchuk were 19-1 together in doubles matches across the spring 2026 regular season and conference tournament. That mark included a 9-0 record in Patriot League matches and 7-0 in the No. 1 flight.
Since the doubles team of the year award was introduced in 2015, this is the fourth time an Army pair of received the honor, and the first time since Cooper Jackson and Paige Herremans took the award in 2023.
Additionally, Army's Madison Smith was named to the All-League First Team, with Ruckno and Vennmukiil Mathivanannamed to the Second Team.
Smith served as Army's primary No. 1 singles and doubles player, going 7-3 in finished dual singles matches and 12-7 in doubles during the spring campaign. Those records include a 7-3 mark in the No. 1 singles flight and an 11-6 No. 1 doubles record.
Ruckno meanwhile posted a 12-2 overall spring singles record, with Mathivanan following at 4-2 in singles with 11 unfinished matches.
Army's three All-League team members are tied for most in the conference this season.
2026 Patriot League Women's Tennis Major Awards
Player of the Year – Gabriella Mikaul, Boston University
Doubles Team of the Year – Emily Ruckno and Olivia Mellynchuk
Rookie of the Year – Nicole Fu, Navy
Coaching Staff of the Year – Navy (Head Coach Keith Puryear)
First Team All-League (Listed alphabetically by school)
Madison Smith, Army West Point
Gabriella Mikaul, Boston University
Abby Platt, Bucknell
Maggie Forkner, Lehigh
Emma Gu, Navy
Nicole Fu, Navy
Second Team All-League (Listed alphabetically by school) *
Emily Ruckno, Army West Point
Vennmukiil Mathivanan, Army West Point
Nancy Liu, Boston University
Madison Liu, Boston University
Amelia Galin, Colgate
Lena Dogadalski, Lehigh
Elena Hartley, Loyola Maryland
Grace Li, Navy
*Additional members added due to tie in voting
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Women's Tennis on X @ArmyWP_WTennis and on Instagram @army_wptennis.
Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about Women's Tennis and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com.
Ruckno and Mellynchuk were 19-1 together in doubles matches across the spring 2026 regular season and conference tournament. That mark included a 9-0 record in Patriot League matches and 7-0 in the No. 1 flight.
Since the doubles team of the year award was introduced in 2015, this is the fourth time an Army pair of received the honor, and the first time since Cooper Jackson and Paige Herremans took the award in 2023.
Additionally, Army's Madison Smith was named to the All-League First Team, with Ruckno and Vennmukiil Mathivanannamed to the Second Team.
Smith served as Army's primary No. 1 singles and doubles player, going 7-3 in finished dual singles matches and 12-7 in doubles during the spring campaign. Those records include a 7-3 mark in the No. 1 singles flight and an 11-6 No. 1 doubles record.
Ruckno meanwhile posted a 12-2 overall spring singles record, with Mathivanan following at 4-2 in singles with 11 unfinished matches.
Army's three All-League team members are tied for most in the conference this season.
2026 Patriot League Women's Tennis Major Awards
Player of the Year – Gabriella Mikaul, Boston University
Doubles Team of the Year – Emily Ruckno and Olivia Mellynchuk
Rookie of the Year – Nicole Fu, Navy
Coaching Staff of the Year – Navy (Head Coach Keith Puryear)
First Team All-League (Listed alphabetically by school)
Madison Smith, Army West Point
Gabriella Mikaul, Boston University
Abby Platt, Bucknell
Maggie Forkner, Lehigh
Emma Gu, Navy
Nicole Fu, Navy
Second Team All-League (Listed alphabetically by school) *
Emily Ruckno, Army West Point
Vennmukiil Mathivanan, Army West Point
Nancy Liu, Boston University
Madison Liu, Boston University
Amelia Galin, Colgate
Lena Dogadalski, Lehigh
Elena Hartley, Loyola Maryland
Grace Li, Navy
*Additional members added due to tie in voting
Follow the Black Knights
Follow Army Women's Tennis on X @ArmyWP_WTennis and on Instagram @army_wptennis.
Fans can also like Army West Point Athletics on Facebook and learn more about Women's Tennis and other programs at goarmywestpoint.com.
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