At the end of each season, The Herald-Tribune selects All-Area teams to honor the best athletes in every sport. Coaches from Sarasota and Manatee County schools are sent nomination forms and are asked to nominate and rate their athletes as well as those from other teams. That data, combined with our research, led to the selection of the All-Area team.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Koreena Hickey
School: Venice
Year: Junior
Highlights: Hickey went 12-3 playing No. 1 singles, advancing to the Class 4A state individual quarterfinals. She won both the Class 4A singles and doubles district tournament.
FIRST TEAM
Martina M. Blanco
School: Saint Stephen’s Episcopal
Year: Sophomore
Highlights: At No. 1 singles, Blanco went 7-1, adding two wins at No. 1 doubles. She has a 5.0 UTR.
Emerson Carter
School: Lakewood Ranch
Year: Junior
Highlights: Carter went 16-3 this season, playing in different spots for Lakewood Ranch. She helped the Mustangs to a 11-2-1 record.
Riley Dixon
School: Venice
Year: Freshman
Highlights: At No. 2 singles, Dixon finished 9-3 in her first year at Venice. At No. 2 doubles, Dixon only lost one match, going 11-1.
Zoya Ilic
School: Pine View School
Year: Seventh grade
Highlights: At No. 1 singles, Ilic finished 7-1, helping Pine View to a 9-8 record. Ilic won the Class 1A district tournament and qualified for the state tournament.
Kathleen Siddons
School: Riverview
Year: Senior
Highlights: At No. 1 singles, Siddons finished 5-3 to end her career as a four-year starter and captain for the Rams. At No. 1 doubles, Siddons also went 5-3. She helped Riverview to a 6-3 overall record.
SECOND TEAM
Ariana Perez, Lakewood Ranch
Vanessa Rossi, Cardinal Mooney
HONORABLE MENTION
Lakewood Ranch: Taylor Knoll
Parrish Community: Beti Kelley
COACH OF THE YEAR
Hannah Legere
School: Lakewood Ranch
Highlights: In her second season as head coach, Legere helped the Mustangs to a 11-2-1 finish.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 2026 Herald-Tribune All-Area Girls Tennis Team, Player of the Year
Reporting by Emma Moon, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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