LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The quest for a GSC Tournament Championship and an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament officially begins for the University of West Alabama Women's Tennis team as the Tigers open up the GSC Quarterfinals with a matchup against Delta State.
No. 1 West Alabama's (14-5, 8-0 GSC) matchup against No. 8 Delta State (1-15, 1-7 GSC) is set for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday at Lagoon Park in Montgomery, Alabama.
The Tigers enter the Tournament after securing the GSC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the bracket with a 4-3 win over Mississippi College this past Wednesday. UWA followed that up with a non-conference victory over Saint Leo on Saturday, extending their win streak to four as the Postseason begins.
West Alabama is led by three of the best players in the entire conference in Shaira Rivera, Alexa Milliam, and Valentina Mutilba. Rivera and Mutilba have been the number one ranked doubles duo in the country all season long and enter Thursday's match, 14-3 in doubles play in 2025. In singles play, Rivera occupies Line One and brings a 11-5 singles record into the Postseason while Mutilba holds a 10-6 record.
As for Milliam, she's set for her first collegiate postseason run after an exceptional regular season campaign. The freshman occupied Line Three in singles to begin the year before head coach Jeff Beaman moved her to Line Two where she inserted dominance. Milliam brings a perfect 16-0 singles record into the Tournament, dropping just three sets all year long. The Philippians native is equally as good in doubles as she holds a 13-1 record with her partner, Emiri Takanishi.
While Rivera, Milliam, and Mutilba will occupy Lines One, Two, and Three, Emiri Takanishi will hold down Line Four with Lolita Hukasian and Greta Zawels taking care of Lines Five and Six.
Delta State has only recorded one win this season which came against Christian Brothers, securing them the final spot in the bracket. Freshman Elena Palioura is the leader of the Statesmen's squad as she holds a team-high seven wins in Line One singles. Palioura has picked up three wins in doubles and will draw Rivera on Thursday.
Yasmin Mayer is solid in Line Three for Delta State. The junior has registered six singles wins this season and will most likely face off against Mutilba while Maria Caride will attempt to be the first player to knock off Milliam in her collegiate career in Line Two.
First serve is set for 10:00 a.m. from Lagoon Park in Montgomery on Thursday.
