Jones College women’s tennis wins program’s first NJCAA national title
SUMTER, S.C. — Jones College women’s tennis won its first NJCAA Division II team national championship, marking the first-ever national title for a Mississippi junior college in women’s tennis. The Bobcats secured the title at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina, winning three individual titles and three doubles titles.
Head coach Brooks Buffington, in his 10th year, called the victory a “tremendous blessing.” He praised his team for their effort throughout the season. “They came out every match all season and competed well to come out on top,” Buffington said. “They’re a special group that will go down in our history.”
Mississippi Gulf Coast moved from NJCAA Division I to Division II before the season began. The change proved beneficial, as Jones finished with 48 points, nine ahead of Wallace State-Hanceville, which totaled 39. Other top teams included Mississippi Gulf Coast and Copiah-Lincoln, tied for third with 31 points, and Coastal Alabama South with 29.5.
Jones earned byes into the final day and went 9-0 on the opening day. They continued their winning streak, going 8-1 on Day 3 and 7-1 on Day 4, setting the stage for the championship. The team clinched the title when Theresa Emelio defeated Lydia Lichlyter of Wallace State 6-2, 6-1 in the Flight 4 singles final. Emelio also secured the first Flight 4 singles individual title in program history.
Additional titles came from Josie Tullos, Maria Martinez, and three doubles teams. Heidi Clayton and Emelio won the Flight 1 doubles championship, finishing the year 24-2. Katlin Porcello and Tullos captured Flight 3 doubles with a 21-1 record, while Martinez and Camila Piquín completed an undefeated season at 20-0 to win Flight 2 doubles.
Buffington expressed gratitude for his team, noting their dedication and bond. “Doing the daily work required, executing that in matches and most importantly becoming a second family,” he said. The Bobcats finished the season undefeated in team competition at 17-0, matching their perfect records from 2024 and 2025.
Jones’ previous best at the national tournament was seventh place twice in NJCAA Division I. The program’s historic win adds to Mississippi junior colleges’ list of national titles, which now includes women’s soccer, softball, co-ed cheer, baseball, men’s basketball, and women’s tennis.
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