SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Former Slippery Rock University women's tennis standout Dari Sakhanova was recently presented with the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award.
 
Sakhanova, who was named the 2025-26 Arthur Ashe Jr. Leadership and Sportsmanship Award honoree for NCAA Division II women's tennis in May, officially accepted the award as part of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's Aug. 29 Leadership Awards Luncheon and Ceremony.
 
The prestigious award is presented annually to just one male and one female tennis student-athlete from each level of collegiate competition. The award, which dates back to 1982, is presented to the men's and women's national student-athletes who have exhibited outstanding sportsmanship and leadership, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
 
"None of this happens without Slippery Rock University athletics, my team and especially my coach Matt Meredith," said Sakhanova. "Thank you for pushing me to grow not just as a player, but as a person who wants to give back to the community off the court too… This is what college tennis is really about. It's never just about wins and losses. It's about the community, the family and the people who push you to be better in every part of life."
 
Sakhanova, who graduated from Slippery Rock in May with her bachelor's degree in sport management and is currently pursuing her master's degree in marketing from Vanderbilt University, earned the national award by being the true definition of an all-around student-athlete.
 
On the court, Sakhanova was a two-time team captain and All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division performer who was named the PSAC West Freshman of the Year in 2023. Sakhanova went on to win 140 matches over her career, leaving SRU as the sixth winningest athlete in program history.
 
With Sakhanova serving as a fixture in The Rock's singles and doubles lineups, SRU recorded a 62-31 team record over the last four seasons that led to four NCAA Tournament berths, two appearances in the Round of 16 as well as a 2026 PSAC Tournament title.
 
Academically, Sakhanova was a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team honoree who maintained a 3.96 GPA. Sakhanova was named to the Dean's List eight times during her Slippery Rock career.
 
Just as impressive as her athletic and academic pursuits was Sakhanova's work in the community. Sakhanova was the vice president of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) at SRU and was a member of the Sport Management Alliance Club, the International Club and Rock Career Champions and the president of SRU's Women in Sports and Events Club.
 
Additionally, Sakhanova also served as peer academic coach at SRU, providing individual and small group academic coaching to students on topics of academic motivation, goal setting, time management, studying skills and habits.
 
Sakhanova became the fifth Slippery Rock women's tennis player to earn the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award at the Atlantic Region level before becoming the second Rock student-athlete to earn the Division II national award. She joins Lauren Coggins (2014) as national recipients of the honor from Slippery Rock.



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