Bridgewater, NJ — It’s an NEC triple crown for FDU women’s tennis standout
Anastasia Lim (Kazan, Russia).
Serving up an ace in the classroom, on the tennis court and in the community during four storied years as a Knight, the Russian-born all-star put the ultimate bow on her illustrious career by claiming the prestigious 2025-26 NEC Female Team Student-Athlete of the Year award.
Presented by
Provident Bank and earmarked as the league’s highest annual individual honor, the NEC Female Team Student-Athlete of the Year award recognizes excellence in the academic and athletic realms, as well as leadership and contributions to one’s community.
Out of a pool of 10 finalists across the NEC’s core membership, Lim smashed the competition to become the second FDU student-athlete to be knighted an NEC Team Student-Athlete of the Year since the inception of the award in 2002-03. She joins Julia Prantl, who was the only other NEC women’s tennis standout to take home the distinction in 2011-12.
Lim was recognized alongside Wagner graduate student and baseball standout Lukas Torres, who was tabbed the 2025-26 NEC Male Team Student-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday.
“What a well-deserved honor for Anastasia to be named the NEC Female Team Student-Athlete of the Year,” said FDU Senior Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Brad Hurlbut. “She represents what it means to be a female student-athlete at FDU, excelling academically, athletically and socially. We couldn't be prouder of her and the role she played in FDU winning the NEC Building Communities Award and the NEC Joan Martin Women’s Commissioner’s Cup this year as well!”
In a 2025-26 campaign that saw FDU reach its third consecutive NEC final, Lim stood tall, becoming the fifth FDU player in program history to be tabbed NEC Player of the Year. She stood out from the rest of the pack in a competitive race to the league’s top-player award, piling up a career-best 15 singles wins on the season, nine of which came in dual matches.
Playing exclusively from the top spot, Lim, who went 4-1 against league opponents in regular season play and came away with signature non-conference wins against players from Delaware, Lehigh, Morgan State and St. John’s, finished her collegiate career with double digit win tallies in each of her four years in Hackensack, building each year to her 2026 tally.
The 2023 NEC Rookie of the Year, Lim was awarded her fourth-straight All-NEC honor in 2026, the latter two being first team nods. In addition, she proved to be a formidable doubles partner throughout her tenure, contributing to 19 wins over the past two seasons while pocketing a pair of All-NEC First Team plaudits alongside partners Alena Kubanova and Yelena Kim in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
“Anastasia gave everything to FDU both as an athlete and a student throughout her entire career,” said FDU head women’s tennis coach Alex Cole. “But this year as a senior, she was encouraged to step up to another level as a veteran, the team’s captain and No. 1 player. Her response was more than I could have hoped for and I am so proud of her for being named NEC Female Team Student-Athlete of the Year. I am honored to have been her coach.”
While achieving superstar status on the tennis court, Lim also produced awe-inspiring academic achievements.
Earning a place on both the NEC Academic and Commissioner’s Honor Roll lists in her first three seasons at FDU, the reigning NEC Women’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete award winner is set to make it four honor roll nods this month. In addition, the Business Administration/International Business major walked across the stage at last month’s commencement boasting a 3.95 GPA.
Lim’s academic résumé is stacked with even more hardware as she was earned FDU’s International Service Award and the Silberman College of Business’ Outstanding Achievement in Business Administration award this past spring.
Service within her FDU and Hackensack communities was also extraordinary for Lim. From her roles in Earth Day campus cleanups to volunteering at bone marrow drives and local food pantries, the Knights’ women’s tennis team captain has volunteered large amounts of time helping others.
“Today, I define success as impact,” Lim said. “As captain of the team, impact meant bringing the energy that supports others and allowing people to be themselves. There are so many people who deeply fear failure, criticism and embarrassment, and I have learned to understand that struggle through my own growth.”
Lim was also selected to represent FDU at the HSI Battle of the Brains, an annual competition that serves as an academic national championship for Hispanic-Serving Institution’s (HSIs).
“Despite not having Hispanic roots, I was welcomed into a space that celebrated Hispanic heritage and history,” Lim reflected. “This experience shaped my understanding of culture and true inclusion.”
NEC STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR RECIPIENTS
2025-26 Lukas Torres, Wagner (male team, baseball)
Anastasia Lim, FDU (female team, tennis)
2024-25 Andrew Deardoff, Saint Francis U (male team, volleyball)
Olivia Ulam, Saint Francis U (female team, softball)
2023-24 Peyton Blain, Saint Francis U (male team, volleyball)
Rachel Marsden, Saint Francis U (female team, softball)
2022-23 Sokol Ymeraj, St. Francis Brooklyn (male team, soccer)
Ashley Dana, CCSU (female team, cross country/track and field)
2021-22 Harald Sollund, St. Francis Brooklyn (male team, soccer)
Angie Rafter, CCSU (female team, cross country/track and field)
Mekenzie Saban, Saint Francis U (female team, softball)
2020-21 Djordje Spasic, St. Francis Brooklyn (male team, swimming and diving)
Tiffany Hanna, Wagner (female team, track and field)
2019-20 Jonathan Besselink, Wagner (male team, cross country/track and field)
Sara Phelan, Saint Francis U (female team, track and field)
2018-19 Evan McDonald, Fairleigh Dickinson (male team, baseball)
Pascalle Tego, Wagner (female team, golf)
2017-18 Charlton Boyd, Wagner (male team, tennis)
Dana Davis, Robert Morris (female team, lacrosse)
2016-17 Kyle Mummau, Bryant (male team, lacrosse)
Brianna Tredway, Wagner (female team, softball)
2015-16 Max Vogt, Bryant (male team, tennis)
Amanda Lucia, Wagner (female team, swimming)
2014-15 Phil Faccone, Wagner (male team, football)
Nicole Sleith, Robert Morris (female team, softball)
2013-14 Meredith Ketchmark, Wagner (swimming)
2012-13 Steve Cioicci, Wagner (football)
2011-12 Julia Prantl, Fairleigh Dickinson (tennis)
2010-11 Katherine Bossardet, CCSU (cross country, track and field)
2009-10 Kundayi Mawema, Bryant (field hockey)
2008-09 Alexandra Tomlinson, Wagner (swimming)
2007-08 Tiffany Hahn, Monmouth (track and field)
2006-07 Erika Jacobs, Saint Francis U (cross country, track and field)
2005-06 Joy Gallagher, Wagner (basketball, softball)
2004-05 Beth Swink, Saint Francis U (basketball)
2003-04 Naomi Campano, Mount St. Mary's (lacrosse)
2002-03 Sabrina Mariani, CCSU (soccer)
About the NEC
Now in its 45th season, the NEC is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of ten institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to a number of the largest markets in the United States including New York (#1), Chicago (#3), Boston (#9). Hartford/New Haven (#32) and Syracuse (#88). Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 25 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 16 different NCAA Championships. NEC full member institutions include Central Connecticut, Chicago State, FDU, Le Moyne, LIU, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Saint Francis U, Stonehill and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.necsports.com) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, all @NECsports.