CLINTON, Miss. — The Mississippi College women's tennis team has climbed to No. 8 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association Division II national rankings, highlighting a strong start to the 2026 spring season for the Choctaws.

Mississippi College enters the week with a perfect 8-0 overall record and a 2-0 mark in Gulf South Conference play. The Choctaws have earned several impressive wins early in the season, including a 6-1 victory over then-No. 2 West Florida and a 4-3 win over Lubbock Christian.

The Choctaws are also well represented in the ITA individual rankings.

Emily Buchanan leads the way at No. 13 nationally in singles, while Rocio Martinez checks in at No. 63 and Rune Van Wyk is ranked No. 70 in the country.

Mississippi College has three doubles teams ranked nationally as well. The tandem of Emily Buchanan and Ann Cabott Stockett sits at No. 32, while Buchanan and Van Wyk are ranked No. 38. The pair of Katharina Weber and Martinez rounds out the group at No. 45 in the national doubles rankings.

On the men's side, Mississippi College is currently ranked No. 37 in the ITA team rankings, though the poll does not yet include the Choctaws' most recent results. The men's squad enters the week with a 5-2 overall record and has won its last two matches, including road victories over Arkansas-Fort Smith (7-0) and Ouachita Baptist (6-1).

Individually, Mikayel Avanesyan is ranked No. 51 nationally in singles, while Matias Ruiz is listed at No. 60. In doubles competition, Ruiz and Mattia Ricci form one of the top tandems in Division II, earning a No. 13 national ranking.

Mississippi College returns to action this weekend at the MC Tennis Complex, hosting No. 13 UT Tyler on Friday before welcoming Lynn University on Saturday. The women's match against the Patriots is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by the men's match at 1 p.m.