Kristyna Hranacova, a junior from Nova Southeastern University, has been named a finalist for the Division II Honda Athlete of the Year award in tennis as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of The Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA), presented by Honda.

The announcement comes during a landmark moment for the organization, as the CWSA celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2025–26 collegiate athletics season. Hranacova is now among 11 elite finalists for this prestigious award, which recognizes the top NCAA Division II athletes across various sports. The DII Honda Athlete of the Year will be selected by senior women administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools and will be honored during a live broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Monday, July 27th, at 7:00 pm ET, in New York City.

“I am incredibly honored to be a finalist for the DII Honda Athlete of the Year Award,” said Hranacova. “This recognition reflects not only my hard work, but also the support of my family, coaches, teammates and everyone who has been a part of my journey. Representing NSU has been a privilege, and I'm proud to be considered alongside so many outstanding student-athletes. Go Sharks!”

Hranacova, a junior from Most, Czech Republic, concluded the season ranked No. 1 nationally in both singles and doubles in the ITA rankings, holding the top spot in singles for the final nine rankings of the year. She played a key role in leading her team to its second NCAA Division II National Championship in the last three seasons, earning victories at the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles. Hranacova also claimed the ITA Cup doubles championship during the fall season.

Hranacova is the first DII athlete to be ranked No. 1 nationally in both singles and doubles since 2017 and/or the first to do so in the same season as winning the NCAA team national championship since 2000

A 2026 Sunshine State Conference (SSC) First Team selection in both singles and doubles, Hranacova was also recognized as Nova Southeastern’s Female Golden Shark Award recipient, honoring the university’s top female athlete. Off the courts, she earned College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District recognition and is now eligible for the Academic All-America honors.

“I am so happy for Kristyna getting named a finalist for such a prestigious award,” stated head coach Doug Neagle. “She defines student-athlete and truly does it all. This year she finished as the #1 singles and doubles player in the country along with winning the team national championship. All of that is great, but what stands out most is her as a person. Kristyna is a quiet, humble leader that supports her teammates daily. She always plays the game with great sportsmanship. She accomplished all of this while earning a 4.0 GPA for the year.”

Now in its 50th year, the CWSA continues to honor the nation’s top female collegiate athletes for excellence in athletics, leadership, academics, and community service. Since partnering with Honda in 1986, the program has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants, strengthening and advancing women’s athletics programs nationwide.

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility and the Honda USA Foundation 

For more than 65 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. The company’s mission is to create products and services that help people fulfill their life’s potential, while conducting business in a sustainable manner and fostering an inclusive workplace. Advancing its corporate social responsibility, Honda and the Honda USA Foundation support this direction through giving focused on education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety, and community.  

Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.