LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama tennis teams will wrap up the conference regular season on Wednesday, April 16, with a home Gulf South Conference doubleheader against Mississippi College. The women's match is slated to begin at 12 p.m., followed by the men at 3 p.m. at the Vaughan Tennis Complex.
The day will also mark Senior Day for the UWA men's team, as the Tigers will recognize Eita Ishikawa, Tomas Almeida, and Francisco Oliveira for their contributions to the program.
UWA Men's Preview
The UWA men (6-11, 2-5 GSC) are looking to close out their regular season on a strong note and gain momentum ahead of the GSC Tournament. With the team now on a three-match losing streak.
Jacob Tapia enters Wednesday's match riding a four-match singles win streak and owns a 7-6 overall record, including a 3-1 mark in GSC play. Vilislav Bonev and Federico Iturbe have also picked up key wins throughout the season, each with six or more singles victories.
On the doubles court, Iturbe and Tapia lead the way with an impressive 10-3 record as a duo, including a 3-1 conference mark. Ishikawa, the lone senior honoree, has been the most versatile in doubles, posting an 11-6 record with four different partners this season.
UWA Women's Preview
The #8 UWA women (12-5, 7-0 GSC) remain undefeated in conference play and are coming off a dominant 5-2 Senior Day win over Auburn Montgomery on Monday.
Freshman standout Alexa Milliam leads the Tigers with a perfect 14-0 singles record and a 6-0 GSC mark, playing primarily at the No. 2 position. Greta Zawels and Valentina Mutilba have also been consistent contributors, combining for 20 singles wins.
In doubles, Milliam and Emiri Takanishi have been lights out with a flawless 12-0 record as a pair. Meanwhile, the team of Rivera and Mutilba is 12-3 overall and 5-1 in GSC competition.
MC Men's Preview
No. 26 Mississippi College Choctaws (13-8, 4-3 GSC) have leaned heavily on standout performances from Rafael Sabio (14-3) and Sergio Ramirez Ocana (11-1), who holds a nine-match winning streak in singles and is undefeated in conference play (5-0). Alex Benichou Blanchard has also been a reliable force with a 12-4 singles record, contributing to MC's impressive .680 team win percentage in singles matches.
In doubles, the pairing of Benichou Blanchard and Sabio leads the way with a 7-4 record and a 4-2 mark in conference play. Alvaro Saint Martin has teamed up effectively with several partners and holds a team-best 12-5 doubles record overall. Despite some shuffling in the doubles lineup, the Choctaws have secured a 13-7 mark in GSC doubles matches.
MC Women's Preview
The #22-ranked Mississippi College women's tennis team has built a dominant 17-4 overall record, including 6-1 in GSC play. With a deep singles lineup that includes five players with double-digit wins, the Choctaws are winning at a .747 clip in singles matches. Katharina Weber (13-3), Anna Hudson (10-1), and Alizee Ripolles (11-3) have anchored the team's success, while Ana Julissa De Mata Rodríguez has gone 10-4 overall and 5-1 in conference action.
In doubles, Emma Roberts and De Mata Rodríguez have formed a top duo with a 10-2 record and a 3-1 mark in GSC competition. As a team, the Choctaws are 7-3 in their last 10 doubles matches, showcasing versatility across all three courts.
The Tigers will look to close out the conference regular season with a statement win before heading into postseason play with championship ambitions. Admission to Wednesday's matches is free. Fans are encouraged to come out and support both squads, especially as the men's team honors its seniors in their final home appearance of the season.
