RELATED LINKS: ITA Division II Individual Rankings (Nov. 15)

TEMPE, Ariz. – Announced by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Wednesday (Nov. 15), doubles team Lucas Hammond and Wilson Igbinovia from the University of West Alabama will enter the spring 2024 campaign ranked 20th in the ITA Division II doubles poll, sponsored by Tennis-Point. 

"Lucas and Wilson had a great run at the fall regional, the toughest in the country," said head coach Jeff Beaman. 

"Lucas is a standout in doubles and if we put him with Wilson or anybody else on the team, we have a top national pairing. With the players we have joining the roster for the spring season, we will figure out our best lineup options, but with Wilson's great improvement in doubles and the depth we will have, I am excited for the options."

The duo advanced to the quarterfinals of the ITA South Regional Championships back in September at Florida Southern. After defeating Joshua Nuyts and Caelan Potts on Embry-Riddle, 8-5, in the opening round, Hammond/Igbinovia cruised past Spring Hill's Paul-Philipp Kern and Hugo Blasco, 8-0, to appear as the final eight doubles teams in the region. 

Despite the setback, the Tigers played a strong set with Nicolas Bacella and Ghali Mensour of Saint Leo that led to the contest going to a tiebreak. Bacella and Mensour entered the national rankings at seventh. 

In the South region, Hammond and Igbinovia are fifth and are the third-highest Gulf South Conference team in the region. 

Preseason team rankings will be announced by the ITA in January. 

UWA will now turn its attention to the spring season, starting with exhibition matches on Jan. 20 against South Alabama.