TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The No. 3 University of West Florida women's tennis team defeated No. 7 Mississippi College 4-3 in the 2026 GSC Championship final on Saturday at the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center. This victory marked UWF's first GSC championship since 2019, and also earned them an automatic bid to the NCAA DII Tournament. West Florida clinched the match with singles wins at the No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 positions.
West Florida dropped the doubles point to Mississippi College. The No. 3 doubles team of
Kylie Kochis and
Sophie Smith secured a 6-2 victory over Katharina Weber and Molly Bennett, marking the first completed match. However, Mississippi College responded by winning at No. 2 doubles where Anna Hudson and Rocio Martinez defeated
Guadalupe Martinez and Aline Da Silva 6-2, and clinched the doubles point at No. 1 doubles with the No. 3 ranked pair of Emily Buchanan and Ann Cabot Stockett overcoming No. 5
Sandra Recuenco and
Carlota Verdu, 6-3.
In singles play, West Florida turned the tide, securing four wins to claim the overall victory. The match concluded at No. 6 singles, where Smith defeated Ann Cabot Stockett 6-4, 6-3, marking the first completed singles match. At No. 5 singles,
Alberte Joergensen added another point for West Florida, winning 7-5, 6-1 against Rune Van Wyk. The pivotal match came at No. 1 singles when Verdu, ranked No. 5, overcame No. 4 Buchanan in a three-set battle, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, bringing the dual score to 3-2 in favor of West Florida.
West Florida clinched the championship with Verdu's victory, and
Guadalupe Martinez added the final margin at No. 4 singles, defeating Hudson, ranked No. 64, in a comeback 5-7, 7-6, 6-2. Mississippi College's points in singles were recorded at No. 3 singles, where No. 51 Weber prevailed over No. 30 Da Silva, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and at No. 2 singles with No. 38 Rocio Martinez defeating No. 33 Recuenco 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. West Florida emerged victorious with a final dual score of 4-3.
Doubles
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#3 Emily Buchanan/Ann Cabot Stockett (MC) def. #5
Sandra Recuenco/
Carlota Verdu (West Florida) 6-3
Anna Hudson/Rocio Martinez (MC) def.
Guadalupe Martinez/Aline Da Silva (West Florida) 6-2
Kylie Kochis/
Sophie Smith (West Florida) def. Katharina Weber/Molly Bennett (MC) 6-2
Order of finish: 3, 2, 1
Singles
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#5
Carlota Verdu (West Florida) def. #4 Emily Buchanan (MC) 2-6, 6-3, 6-2
#38 Rocio Martinez (MC) def. #33
Sandra Recuenco (West Florida) 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
#51 Katharina Weber (MC) def. #30 Aline Da Silva (West Florida) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
#37
Guadalupe Martinez (West Florida) def. #64 Anna Hudson (MC) 7-5, 6-7, 6-2
Alberte Joergensen (West Florida) def. #63 Rune Van Wyk (MC) 7-5, 6-1
Sophie Smith (West Florida) def. #75 Ann Cabot Stockett (MC) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 6, 5, 1, 3, 2, 4
Looking ahead, the Argos will play in the NCAA South Regional Tournament. Opponents, times, and locations will be announced on GoArgos.com.
For more information on the UWF women's tennis program, visit GoArgos.com and follow the team on social media at @uwfwomenstennis (Instagram) and @TennisUWF (X).
