ASU’s Natalya Ogunwale named SIAC Player of the Year

ATLANTA — Albany State senior Natalya Ogunwale was named the 2024 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Women’s Tennis Player of the Year, the league announced Friday.

A native of London, United Kingdom, Ogunwale earned the top individual honor after a stellar senior season. She was also named to the All-SIAC Singles Team and joined doubles partner Jenny Zapien on the All-SIAC Doubles Team.

Zapien, a senior from Oaxaca, Mexico, also earned All-SIAC recognition for her individual play, giving Albany State two of the conference’s top performers.

Together, Ogunwale and Zapien formed one of the league’s most dominant doubles pairings and helped anchor Albany State’s lineup throughout the season.

In addition to Ogunwale and Zapien’s honors, Albany State had another doubles team — Jonay Brittain and Julie Tungamirai — earn All-SIAC recognition. Brittain, a sophomore from Marietta, Ga., and Tungamirai, a freshman from Harare, Zimbabwe, gave the Golden Rams strong depth in doubles play.

The SIAC also announced its other major awards Friday. Benedict College’s Carmen Kpadonou was named Freshman of the Year, while Valerie Essome (Benedict) earned the Elite 16 Award. Tuskegee’s Gregory Green was named Coach of the Year.