LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama women's tennis program added another milestone to its historic 2025 campaign, as
Shaira Rivera,
Alexa Milliam, and
Valentina Mutilba have been named
2025 ITA Division II All-Americans. Rivera and Milliam earned the honor in singles, while Rivera and Mutilba earned the honor in doubles.
Their selection adds to a growing list of elite talent under head coach
Jeff Beaman , as the trio becomes the latest Tigers to earn one of collegiate tennis's highest achievements. They now join an accomplished group of former UWA All-Americans that includes:
- Chris Bulus – Singles/Doubles
- Ilari Vesanen – Doubles
- Lucas Hammond / Marcel Hornung – Doubles
- Julius Kavernen – Singles/Doubles
- Linus Holthy – Doubles
- Khim Iglupas - Singles
- Haina Franco – Singles/Doubles (multiple years)
- Katia De La Garza – Singles/Doubles
- Almudena Sanz – Singles
- Georgina Salom – Doubles
- Amina Mukhametshina – Singles/Doubles
Alexa Milliam made an immediate impact in her freshman campaign, capturing the ITA South Region Rookie of the Year award and now earning All-American honors in singles. The Philippines native began the season with a Division I win over Alabama State and never looked back—rattling off 19 straight singles victories, including six ranked wins, while dropping only four sets all season.
In doubles, Milliam was equally dominant, finishing 16-1 with partner
Emiri Takanishi, compiling a combined 35-3 record in her first collegiate season. Her rise marks one of the most impressive rookie campaigns in UWA Tennis history.
After winning the ITA Fall National Doubles Championship,
Shaira Rivera and
Valentina Mutilba carried that momentum into the spring and finished the year with a No. 1 national doubles ranking, the first-ever top finish in program history. Their success earned them ITA All-American in doubles.
The pair posted a 16-5 record at Line One and consistently faced the top duos in the country, helping lead UWA to a program-best No. 6 team national ranking and No. 3 in the South Region.
Rivera, a steady presence in the singles lineup, also secured ITA All-American in singles after finishing the season ranked No. 18 nationally and No. 9 in the South Region. Her leadership and consistency played a pivotal role in guiding the Tigers to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Mutilba was recognized earlier this year as the ITA South Region Most Improved Player, after drastically increasing her production in both singles and doubles. Her 16 doubles wins this season were 12 more than her freshman total, and she posted 11 singles victories, five more than a year ago.
Nevertheless, the trio's national recognition solidifies 2025 as one of the most successful seasons in UWA women's tennis history—and a continuation of a tradition of excellence built under Coach Beaman's leadership. With Rivera, Milliam, and Mutilba joining a decorated list of former All-Americans, the Tigers are not just rewriting the record books—they're adding new chapters to a legacy of greatness.
