UDC’s Dickie Mahaffey Named ECC Coach of the Year; Polina Zelentsova and Celia Bastin Earn All-ECC Honors
Washington, D.C. - The University of the District of Columbia women's tennis team received significant recognition in the East Coast Conference (ECC) year-end awards, with Head Coach Dickie Mahaffey III being named ECC Coach of the Year, for the fifth time in his career. In addition, UDC standout players Polina Zelentsova and Célia Bastin earned spots on the All-ECC First Team and Second Team, respectively.
Mahaffey was awarded ECC Coach of the Year honors after leading the Firebirds to a 6-2 overall record and 4-1 mark in ECC play with wins over Daemen, 6-1, D'Youville, 7-0, Molloy, 6-1, and Queens, 4-3. UDC's performance in the conference was good for a share of the ECC regular season title, marking the program's second overall and first since 2021. This also marks Coach Mahaffey's fifth ECC Coach of the Year honors.
Zelenstova went 5-0 at the No.2 position in singles play and 4-1 at the No.1 doubles position. In the Firebirds 4-3 win over Queens, she defeated pre-season Player of the Year Maj Makal in straight sets. Her only singles loss on the season came in the Round of 32 at the ITA Regional Tournament back in September.
Bastin went 4-1 in singles play at No.4 and 5-0 t No.2 doubles. In the Firebirds 4-3 win over Queens she helped secure the doubles point at No.2 and then went on to clinch the match point after defeating Kyra Bergmann in a three set match up. Her only doubles loss of the season came in the Quarterfinal round of the ITA East Regional Tournament back in September.
2024 ECC Women's Tennis All-Conference
First Team
Anaya Brons, St. Thomas Aquinas
Courtney Fyvie, St. Thomas Aquinas
Caroline Hany-Fawzy, Queens
Frida Rubio, Daemen
Elise Semmartin, St. Thomas Aquinas
Polina Zelentsova, Dist. Columbia
Second Team*
Celia Bastin, Dist. Columbia
Saga Berggren, Queen
Kyra Bergmann, Queens
Maja Makal, Queens
Ombeline Robilliart, St. Thomas Aquinas
Regina Ruiz, Queens
Elita Silins, St. Thomas Aquinas
Player of the Year - Anaya Brons, St. Thomas Aquinas
Rookie of the Year - Anaya Brons, St. Thomas Aquinas
Coach of the Year - Dickie Mahaffey, District of Columbia