LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The University of West Alabama Men's and Women's Team are both featured in the first edition of the NCAA South Region Rankings as they prepare for their GSC Tournament opener that's set for Thursday.
West Alabama's Women's team is ranked No. 4 in the country in the ITA rankings and No. 5 in the NCAA Region Rankings as they gear up for a matchup against No. 6 seed AUM at 5:00 p.m. in the GSC Tournament.
As for the Men's team, they are ranked 16th in the ITA top-25 and No. 7 in the Region rankings as they prepare to take on Valdosta State at 8:00 a.m. in the GSC Tournament.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
The Tigers enter the GSC Tournament as the three-seed after going 5-2 in GSC play this season. UWA will bring a talented roster into the tournament, headlined by the GSC Player of the Year, Shaira Rivera. Rivera was named the Conference's Player of the Year after turning in an impressive season on Line One singles and doubles. The Graduate Student is 12-6 in singles and 17-2 in doubles as she leads the Tigers lineup into their matchup against AUM.
Alexa Milliam will be on Line Two and is ready for the second GSC Tournament appearance of her career after being named First Team All-GSC by the conference. Milliam has accumulated 26 total wins on the year, highlighted by her doubles play in which she carries a 16-2 record with Rivera.
Valentina Mutilba, Jenaila Prulla, Nanoka Kazama, and Jian Ibrahim round out the Tigers lineup. The quartet has combined for 56 singles wins on the year.
As for AUM, they enter the tournament with a 6-12 overall record and a 3-5 record in league play. Melissa Yakup Pour leads the Warhawks. Yakup Pour is 8-9 on Line One, leading to the senior being named First Team All-GSC. Yakup Pour is 4-1 in GSC play and is set to rematch Rivera on Line One on Thursday. In the first matchup between the two, Rivera won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Mercedes Garcia Cid and Allison Blanco are also solid for AUM as the Eugene combined for a 15-13 record in singles.
First serve between UWA and AUM is set for 5:00 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center.
MEN'S TENNIS
West Alabama enters the GSC Tourney as the No. 3 seed after registering a 5-3 GSC record in the regular season. First Team All-GSC selections in Jacob Tapia and Afonso Portugal lead the way. Tapia is 14-5 on the year and 9-1 on Line One in singles action. The junior is also ranked 18th in doubles, accumulated a 14-4 record with his partner, Federico Iturbe. Iturbe is also 13-3 in singles, giving UWA another powerful option in singles play.
Portugal leads the Tigers in overall wins with 30. The graduate is 15-3 in singles and 15-4 in doubles.
Maksim Goncharov, Gabriel Garay, Itaru Kikuchi, and Sebastiao Vilas fill out West Alabama's lineup as the Tigers look to begin a rememberable GSC Tournament.
Valdosta State is the defending National Champions but hasn't maintained that level of play in 2026. The Blazers enter the GSC Tournament, 5-11 on the year and 3-5 in GSC play.
Philipp Bosse is VSU's top singles player. Bosse is 6-3 on the year and 4-2 overall on Line One. Jerome Iaconi and Pierre Casciola hold records of .500 or better as they attempt to spring the upset against UWA on Thursday.
First serve for Thursday's matchup between UWA and VSU is set for 8:00 a.m. at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Courts.
