Women's Tennis Inks 2026 Signing Class
5/20/2026 5:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – North Florida Women's Tennis Head Coach Catherine Dunagan officially announced the program's 2026 signing class.
"I'm excited about our 2026 recruiting class," Dunagan said. "We have some experience coming with our transfers which will be great for our team. Our freshmen truly embody the North Florida spirit and have great character. I am excited to work with them this year as we seek another championship."
North Florida inked five newcomers to its 2026 class that will join a key core of returners next season. The Ospreys posted a 25-1 overall record and an undefeated regular season in 2026.Â
North Florida will enter its 2026-27 campaign as the reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Champions.Â
North Florida's 2026 signing class consists of three freshmen and two transfers. Graduate student Emma Kette is a transfer from Ole Miss and junior Sydney Stark is set to transfer from Hillsborough Community College. Joining the squad as freshmen will be Zoe Dupaty, Aubrey Effler and Jess Gunter.
EMMA KETTE:
Year: Graduate Student
Previous School: Ole Miss
Hometown: Rammelsbach, Germany
Kette joins the Ospreys after competing for three seasons in the SEC at Ole Miss.
2024-25 (JUNIOR AT OLE MISS):
Kette went 8-10 overall in singles and added three wins to her career doubles record. She posted a 2-0 record on court five. Kette defeated the No. 122-ranked player in the nation, Talia Neilson (Florida), at the ITA Sectionals for her first ranked victory of the season.
The graduate student transfer earned her 20th career overall doubles victory at the ITA Regionals. Kette reached the quarterfinal round in doubles at the ITA Southern Regional, while making the Sweet 16 in singles in the tournament.
2023-24 (SOPHOMORE AT OLE MISS):Â
Kette led Ole Miss in dual match singles wins with 13 and finished second in overall victories with 17. She went 7-4 overall and 0-1 in dual matches in doubles. Kette saw action at five of the six positions in singles, picking up one win at court one, one at court three, seven at court five, and four at court six.
Kette helped Ole Miss defeat No. 34 LSU with a 6-2, 6-1 victory in singles. Against No. 21 Alabama, Kette picked up the match-clinching point with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-2 win in singles at court five. She was named to the SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll list.
2022-2023 (FRESHMAN AT OLE MISS):Â
Kette appeared in all 24 matches in the spring. She posted a 12-10 singles record and a 11-9 doubles record. Kette primarily competed as the No. 3 doubles and No. 4 singles. She began dual play as the first Rebel since Alexa Bortles in 2018 to go 6-0.
Kette earned her first national ranked singles win against No. 117 Maria Rizzolo in a sweep over Mississippi State on March 31. She clinched a 4-3 win over No. 16 Auburn in the SEC Championships on April 20, advancing Ole Miss into the SEC Quarterfinals for the first time since 2018.
PRIOR TO OLE MISS:Â
Kette ranked No. 1017 in ITF Singles. She holds an 18.6 ITF World Tennis Number in singles with an overall singles record of 12-9.
SYDNEY STARK:
Year: Junior
Previous School: Hillsborough Community College
High School: Federal Commercial Academy
Hometown: Burs, Austria
Stark joins the Ospreys after winning back-to-back NJCAA Division I National Championships at Hillsborough Community College in her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Stark played on the No. 3 singles court and No. 1 doubles court for HCC. She was named 2026 NJCAA First Team Singles and Doubles All-American. In Stark's two seasons at HCC, her team posted a 19-4 overall record.
ZOE DUPATY:
Year: Freshman
High School: Inspiration Academy
Hometown: Bradenton, Fla.
Dupaty joins the Ospreys as a freshman after her high-school career at Inspiration Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Dupaty is a four-star recruit in the 2026 class, according to tennisrecruiting.net. She is ranked the No. 153 recruit in the 2026 class and has a 217 Tennis RPI ranking.
AUBREY EFFLER:
Year: Freshman
High School: Alamo HeightsÂ
Hometown: Jacksonville, Fla.
Effler joins the Ospreys as a freshman after her high-school career at Alamo Heights in Jacksonville, Fla.
Effler is a three-star recruit in the 2026 class, according to tennisrecruiting.net. She is ranked the No. 225 recruit in the 2026 class and has a 213 Tennis RPI ranking.
Effler was receiving high interest level on the recruiting trails from North Carolina, Florida and UCF, according to tennisrecruiting.net.Â
JESS GUNTER:
Year: Freshman
Hometown: Bristol England
