LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The No. 17 University of West Alabama men's tennis team and the No. 5 UWA women's tennis team hit the road for one of their biggest tests of the season, traveling to Clinton, Mississippi, for a pair of top-25 matchups against Mississippi College.
The Tigers will face No. 18 Mississippi College on the men's side and No. 7 Mississippi College on the women's side, with both matches carrying major Gulf South Conference implications.
Men's Matchup: No. 17 UWA vs. No. 18 Mississippi College
West Alabama enters the contest at 11-5 overall and 3-2 in GSC play, looking to build momentum in a tightly contested conference race. The Tigers have been led by a strong singles lineup, highlighted by
Matias Iturbe, who is ranked No. 19 nationally, and
Gabriel Garay, who comes in at No. 44.
Afonso Portugal and
Jacob Tapia have also been key contributors, each riding six-match winning streaks in singles play, while
Federico Iturbe has compiled an impressive 10-2 overall record.
In doubles, the duo of
Federico Iturbe and
Jacob Tapia has been dominant, posting an 11-4 record and climbing to No. 28 in the national rankings. The pairing of Portugal and
Maksim Goncharov has also been a reliable option, going 9-2 overall this season.
Mississippi College (13-5, 4-3 GSC) presents a tough challenge with a deep and experienced lineup. Matias Ruiz (No. 27) and Mattia Ricci (No. 54) lead the Choctaws in singles, while also forming one of the nation's top doubles teams, ranked No. 6 with a 14-3 record.
The Choctaws boast an overall singles record of 77-23 and have multiple players with double-digit wins, including Sergio Ramirez Ocana at 16-1 and Florian Walcher at 13-2, making this one of the toughest lineups UWA will face this season.
Women's Matchup: No. 5 UWA vs. No. 7 Mississippi College
On the women's side, West Alabama enters at 14-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play, continuing to establish itself as one of the top teams in the region.
The Tigers feature a balanced and nationally recognized lineup, led by
Shaira Rivera (No. 11),
Alexa Milliam (No. 16), and
Nanoka Kazama (No. 46). Kazama has been one of the most dominant players in the conference, holding a 13-1 record and riding a 12-match winning streak, while
Jenaila Prulla remains undefeated at 13-0.
In doubles, Rivera and Milliam have been outstanding, ranking No. 8 nationally with a 10-1 record and entering the match on a five-match winning streak.
Mississippi College enters the matchup undefeated at 19-0 overall and 7-0 in GSC play, anchored by one of the top players in the nation in Emily Buchanan, who is ranked No. 2 in singles. The Choctaws also feature Ann Cabot Stockett, who is a perfect 19-0 this season, along with multiple players boasting double-digit wins.
In doubles, the pairing of Buchanan and Stockett is ranked No. 2 nationally and holds a 15-2 record, leading a Mississippi College squad that is 44-8 overall in doubles competition.
Both matches present significant opportunities for West Alabama to strengthen its position in the GSC standings and earn statement wins against nationally ranked opponents.
With postseason play approaching, the Tigers will look to rely on their depth and strong doubles play as they take on one of the conference's top programs in a high-stakes road matchup.
