SUMTER, S.C. – Jones College women's tennis is coming home to Ellisville an NJCAA Division II national champion.
The Bobcats captured the program's and the state's first-ever team national title and added three individual national titles and three doubles titles at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter.
"Winning the national championship is a tremendous blessing," 10th-year head coach and 2026 NJCAA ITA Women's Tennis Coach of the Year
Brooks Buffington said. "I was so excited for the women that have been putting forth their time, energy and effort to achieve it. They came out every match all season and competed well to come out on top. They're a special group that will go down in our history."
Mississippi moved from NJCAA Division I to Division II prior to the start of the season and it paid off with eight teams in the final 21 of the tournament and Jones winning it running away.
Jones finished with 48 points, nine clear of Wallace State-Hanceville (39) for second place. Mississippi Gulf Coast (31) and Copiah-Lincoln (31) tied for third and Coastal Alabama South (29.5) placed fifth.
The Bobcats advanced with byes into Sunday and proceeded to go 9-0 on the opening day.
Jones wrapped up Day 3 going 8-1 and was 7-1 on Day 4 to set the stage for a national title. The Bobcats needed one win in their seven combined matches or a Hanceville loss.
Theresa Emelio clinched the team title and the first-ever Flight 4 singles NJCAA DII individual title in program history with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Wallace State's Lydia Lichlyter to open Wednesday.
Josie Tullos followed with a three-set win at Flight 6 singles,
Maria Martinez at Flight 3 singles and then all three doubles teams won.
Heidi Clayton/Emelio captured the Flight 1 doubles national championship, wrapping up the year 24-2.
Katlin Porcello/Tullos captured Flight 3 doubles to close the year 21-1 and Martinez/
Camila Piquín wrapped up the year 20-0 and won the title at Flight 2 doubles.
"I am so thankful for these outstanding young women for choosing Jones," Buffington continued. "Doing the daily work required, executing that in matches and most importantly becoming a second family."
Jones was 17-0 in team competition on the year after going 17-0 in 2025 and 22-0 in 2024.
Prior to this year, Jones' highest finish at the national tournament was seventh (twice) in NJCAA Division I.
Jones was the first Mississippi junior college program to bring home national titles in women's soccer, softball, co-ed cheer, baseball, men's basketball and now, women's tennis.
