YOUNG HARRIS, GA| Futaba Saito has been named the 2025-2026 Conference Carolinas Spring Scholar Athlete of the Year for Women's Tennis. The Scholar-Athlete awards Presented by Hudl are awarded annually to one individual in each Conference Carolinas sponsored sport. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners are chosen by the Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs and Awards Committee. To be considered, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher while also being an all-conference selection. 

Saito showcased the ability to be a student athlete on and off the court this season. The junior from Chita, Japan put together an exceptional season for the Mountain Lions. In singles matches, Saito finished with a 12-6 record while going a remarkable 21-1 in doubles matches to earn Conference Carolinas first team all-conference honors. This outstanding play for YH helped lead the team to a 17-6 overall record while posting an undefeated 13-0 record in conference play for the regular season. This earned the team the Conference Carolinas Southwest Division title and a trip to the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.