LIVINGSTON, Ala. - After leading the University of West Alabama Women's Tennis team to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2025, Alexa Milliam was named the ITA South Region Rookie of the Year while Valentina Mutilba took home the distinction of Most Improved Player.
Milliam becomes the first Region Rookie of the Year winner in program history while Mutilba adds a South Region Most Improved Player acknowledgement to her crowded trophy case.
It is great to see these players recognized for their achievements," said head coach Jeff Beaman. "They have worked hard all season long and deserve all of the accolades that they've received."
Milliam took the country by storm in 2025 as she burst onto the scene with a Division I win over Alabama State to begin the year. After that, the freshman throughly dominated her competition, winning 19 consecutive singles matches with six of those being ranked wins. The Philippians native only dropped four sets all season long, putting her in a league of her own. In doubles, Milliam went 16-3 overall and 16-1 with her partner Emiri Takanishi, combining for a 35-3 record in her first collegiate season.
As for Mutilba, she began her sophomore year by winning the ITA Doubles National Championship with her partner, Shaira Rivera. Mutilba's momentum from the Fall season carried over to the Spring as the sophomore put together a 16-5 record in Line One doubles with Rivera. In singles play, Mutilba fluctuated between Lines Two and Three and accumulated a 11-10 record which is five more victories than her mark from the previous season. The sophomore's 16 doubles wins stands as 12 more victories than her freshman campaign in 2024, making her a clear recipient of this award.
