RELATED LINKS: Championship Central | ITA National Rankings | NCAA Region Rankings (April 24)

LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women's tennis team is preparing for the 2024 Gulf South Conference Championship, scheduled to begin on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. from Lagoon Park in Montgomery, Alabama. 

UWA earned the top seed after securing a fourth straight perfect season in conference play and will play 8-seed Christian Brothers in the quarterfinals. The Tigers took care of the Lady Bucs by a 6-1 score in Livingston back on April 4. 

Winning the last 43 matches in a row, the Tigers are 79-9 in GSC play since 2016. 

"I think we need to go out and have the self-confidence to win," said head coach Jeff Beaman. We're a really good team, but if we don't focus on the right things, you can jam yourself up. We have a lot of talent, and if we're healthy, physically and mentally, we can win a national championship."

Seeking their fourth straight GSC Championship, the Tigers are making their 27th appearance at the event since 1992.

West Alabama (14-8) enters the weekend ranked seventh in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II national rankings. UWA has hovered around the top 10 all season, with a program-best ranking of third after the ITA Indoor National Championships after knocking out region foe Saint Leo University (Fla.) in the third place match.

In the NCAA region rankings announced on Wednesday, the Tigers are listed sixth. 

"Overall, we're working hard as a team; they're eager to win," said assistant coach Katia de la Garza. 

Individually, UWA has three athletes named in the latest ITA rankings. Khim Iglupas moves up to third in the singles rankings and is 17-1 on the season, all coming from the top flight. More impressively, the graduate student has won 13 straight matches, dating back to early March. 

In doubles, Hardija Vidnere and Shaira Rivera remains at 10th in the latest listing and are 12-4 this season. 

"I feel really confident with Shaira (Rivera), and she's comfortable with me. We go into each match one at a time, and we balance out our energy," said graduate student Hardija Vidnere. 

As a team, the Tigers have gotten the doubles point 16 times out of 22 matches. In college tennis, with the exception of NCAA Division III, you must win two of the three doubles flights to score the first point. 

"If we can get that first point, that makes everybody's energy go up and it helps the team to go out and take care of business," added Garza. 

Singles have come at a test lately for the Tigers. In the last two matches, the contests have come down to the wire. At Montevallo, despite the 6-1 score, five of the six positions went to a deciding third set. In the regular season finale against Mississippi College, the Choctaws made it interesting by evening the match at three before Vidnere rallied at the No. 6 flight to take the victory. 

"Each spot is important for us. In the Mississippi College match, I was down, but I was able to help the team win. It's not about being selfish for your point, it's about the team and how important your point is," added Vidnere. 

And the Tigers see that energy across the board in singles, and as matches get down to the end, having the enthusiasm of the team cheering you on is critical with postseason play looming.

"That's the best from what we remember from the tournament last year. As soon as you are done with a match, win or lose, we go out and cheer for the others who are still playing. I'm excited to do that again," said senior Heden Ly. 

The match between UWA and CBU will take place on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Live coverage and tournament central can be found by clicking at the top of the story or by going to uwaathletics.com/live.