BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Auburn University at Montgomery women's tennis placed two student-athletes on the 2026 All-Gulf South Conference teams, as senior Melissa Yakup Pour earned First Team All-GSC honors and freshman Mercedes was named Second Team All-GSC. The selections were voted on by the league's head coaches following the regular season.
Melissa Yakup Pour: First Team All-GSC
Senior Melissa Yakup Pour delivered a standout season at the top of the lineup for AUM, earning First Team All-GSC honors while competing primarily at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. She closed the year ranked No. 13 nationally in singles and No. 22 in doubles, consistently facing some of the nation's strongest competition throughout the spring slate.
Yakup Pour posted multiple key singles wins across the season, including a victory over Mississippi College's Emily Buchanan, who entered the match undefeated on the year. She also delivered wins over Tuskegee, Christian Brothers, Cameron, Augusta, Delta State, and Montevallo. In conference play, she added several high-impact performances, including a three-set win over Montevallo and a straight-set victory at No. 17 Valdosta State, helping anchor the Warhawks' lineup against ranked opposition.
She also collected signature wins in doubles alongside Nagisa Yonezawa, including victories over No. 10 Columbus State, No. 17 Valdosta State, Delta State, Augusta, and Montevallo, while helping AUM secure multiple opening doubles points against nationally ranked programs.
Yakup Pour was also named GSC Player of the Week twice during the season.
Mercedes Garcia Cid: Second Team All-GSC
Freshman Mercedes Garcia Cid earned Second Team All-Gulf South Conference honors after a strong debut season for AUM, competing primarily at No. 2 and No. 3 singles and doubles. She consistently contributed in both singles and doubles play while gaining valuable experience against several nationally ranked opponents throughout the year.
Garcia Cid posted multiple singles wins during the season, including victories over Tuskegee, Cameron, Augusta, Delta State, and Montevallo. She also picked up a ranked win over No. 3 West Alabama, along with a three-set win over No. 6 Mississippi College. In conference play, she added additional wins over Augusta and Delta State, including a strong straight-set finish against Montevallo to close the season.
In doubles, Garcia Cid was a key contributor at the No. 2 and No. 3 positions alongside Allison Blanco and Sofia Neri, recording wins over Tuskegee, Christian Brothers, Embry-Riddle, Cameron, UT Tyler, Augusta, and Delta State. The duo also helped AUM secure doubles points against multiple ranked opponents, including No. 6 Embry-Riddle.
Garcia Cid finished her freshman season with several competitive performances against nationally ranked teams, including matches against No. 2 West Florida, No. 6 Embry-Riddle, and No. 17 Valdosta State.
Garcia Cid was also named GSC Freshman of the Week five times during the season.
Up Next
Yakup Pour, Garcia Cid, and the rest of the Warhawks are set to open play in the 2026 Gulf South Conference Championship tomorrow with a quarterfinal matchup. The AUM women earned the No. 6 seed in the tournament and will take on No. 3 seed West Alabama on April 23 at 5 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
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