Millsaps Tennis Teams Prepare for 2026 Season with New Faces and Goals
Jackson, Mississippi — Millsaps College’s men’s and women’s tennis teams are gearing up for the 2026 season, featuring several new players and returning contributors. The teams will play predominantly at home, with 11 of their 18 matches scheduled on the Coach Montgomery Courts in Jackson, Miss.
The women’s team will be led by senior Alexis Oliver, the only upperclassman returning from the previous season. Oliver has compiled 20 wins in her career, despite missing the 2024 season due to injury. Last year, she recorded five singles wins and seven doubles wins, half against Southern Athletic Association opponents. She is expected to be a key player for the Majors this season.
Oliver will be supported by a talented sophomore class, including Riley McClain, Malakie Smith, and Skylar Spinks. All three were named ITA Scholar-Athletes and made the SAA All-Academic Team. The sophomores have combined for 36 wins in their first year at Millsaps. The team also welcomes freshman Bella-Bennett Graham, who will make her collegiate debut, and adds Virginia Trible, a former Millsaps volleyball player, to the roster.
The women’s team is coming off back-to-back appearances in the SAA Championship and aims for a third consecutive qualification this season. On the men’s side, senior Sam Tuli leads the team. Tuli is the only upperclassman remaining after a large graduating class, but he brings significant experience, with 39 wins over three seasons. Sophomore Sebastian Gonzalez, with two doubles wins last year, is also a returning player looking to build on his experience.
The men’s team features several freshmen, including Anderson Causey, Jon Nguyen, Cooper Payne, Brennan Pierce, and Bradley Schiaffino, who are expected to make an immediate impact. Head Coach Agnes Gee, in her sixth season, hopes to improve on recent seasons. The teams have made back-to-back trips to the SAA Tournament and aim to win conference titles this year.
The schedule includes matches against Blue Mountain Christian, Huntingdon, Copiah-Lincoln, Christian Brothers, Northwest Mississippi, Belhaven, MUW, Ozarks, Jones, Rhodes, Rust, Berry, Oglethorpe, Centre, Sewanee, Southwestern, Trinity, and Maryville. The SAA Championships are scheduled for April 24-26.
Follow Millsaps tennis on X and Instagram, like Millsaps Majors Athletics on Facebook, or visit gomajors.com for updates. Millsaps College, founded in 1890 in Jackson, Mississippi, is renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to community progress, according to college rankings and publications.
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