University of Tennessee Athletics
Lady Vols Ink Four Commits on National Signing Day
November 13, 2025 | Women's Tennis
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee women's tennis head coach Alison Ojeda announced Thursday the signings of four athletes – Audrey Aulia, Lisa Kamigata, Sarah Mildren, and Alyson Shannon – to join the Lady Vols.
"We're really excited to welcome Lisa, Sarah, Aly and Audrey to the Tennessee family," associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Robin Goodman shared. "Each of them brings real talent, great character and the kind of drive and personality that fit perfectly with our team.
"We can't wait to get to work with them to take the next step in their development. It's a special group, and we're proud that they chose Tennessee."
Audrey Aulia (Rosebery, Australia)
Aulia, the younger sister of current Lady Vol senior Catherine Aulia, will join the roster for the upcoming spring 2026 dual slate. She owns a resume featuring a wealth of experience with professional tennis in Australia, qualifying for main draws at multiple W35 events in the past year.
She currently ranks as the No. 16 under-18 player in Australia, per UTR, but has previously been ranked as highly as No. 10. She boasts a career high ITF Juniors ranking of No. 379 in the world.
"I'm very excited that Audrey is joining our program this January," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "Her family is world class, and in all honesty, I'm thrilled we get to coach another Aulia for four more years!"
The Aulia duo will become the first pair of sisters to compete together for the Lady Vols since Paula and Peta Kelly competed together from 1978 to 1982. The Kelly twins were the Lady Vols' first-ever All-Americans, first AIAW Individual Tournament representatives as a doubles pair, and hold the program record for doubles wins – career (156) and single-season (46). They, too, were Australians, hailing from Brisbane.
Lisa Kamigata (Chiba, Japan)
Kamigata, one of Japan's most revered junior players, has competed on the international circuit for the last multiple years, playing matches throughout her native Japan, Belgium, France and Turkey during the last year.
In October of 2024, Kamigata earned a spot in the main draw at the 2025 Junior French Open, the flagship clay court juniors championship, contested at the historic Roland Garros grounds. She earned her spot by winning the Roland Garros Juniors Series event in Tokyo, conquering a field of 16 of the most talented young players across Asia.
Sarah Mildren (Adelaide, Australia)
Mildren, like Kamigata, arrives on Rocky Top with a resume featuring high-level international junior competition. Throughout her career on the ITF junior circuit, she has collected two singles titles and four doubles titles. In August, Mildren reached the final of the J200 event in Sydney, her best career finish at that level.
She also reached the singles quarterfinals at two women's professional events in Australia this summer, the W15 in Tweed Head and W35 in Swan Hill.
Mildren was awarded the Gwen Thiel Memorial Trophy by Tennis Australia, presented to the outstanding 18-and-under tennis player in South Australia, a region rich with tennis talent. In 2024, she won Australia's 16-and-under national championship, earning a wild card bid to the Australian Open Juniors Championships.
"It is so important to find players who are not only good tennis players, but also people who fit what our program is all about – respect," Ojeda said of her signees. "Sarah and Lisa are two very respectful, positive and joyful people to be around. They both love tennis and fell in love with the people here on campus. We are thrilled that they are joining our program, and we look forward to being a part of their tennis journey!"
Alyson Shannon (Plano, Texas)
Shannon has been dubbed a five-star recruit by Tennis Recruiting Network and ranks as the No. 29 recruit nationally and No. 2 recruit in the state of Texas for her class.
"One of the neat things about Aly Shannon joining our program this upcoming fall is that I have had a couple of years to really get to know her and her family," Coach Ojeda remarked. "They are incredibly supportive and always excited to talk about Aly's development in a healthy way.
"She's also currently training at Lakes Tennis Academy in Dallas with some amazing coaches, Mario Toledo, Former Vol and All-American, being one of them! So, she comes to Tennessee already understanding and embracing what our program is all about."
Shannon has competed in multiple pro-level events as she approaches her collegiate career, featuring in multiple UTR-PTT events in recent months.
She has also competed at the highest level of the USTA juniors circuit, logging wins at USTA's under-18 National Winter Championships, National Spring Championships, Battle of the Sections, and Billie Jean King Girls 16-18 National Championships.
"We're really excited to welcome Lisa, Sarah, Aly and Audrey to the Tennessee family," associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Robin Goodman shared. "Each of them brings real talent, great character and the kind of drive and personality that fit perfectly with our team.
"We can't wait to get to work with them to take the next step in their development. It's a special group, and we're proud that they chose Tennessee."
Audrey Aulia (Rosebery, Australia)
Aulia, the younger sister of current Lady Vol senior Catherine Aulia, will join the roster for the upcoming spring 2026 dual slate. She owns a resume featuring a wealth of experience with professional tennis in Australia, qualifying for main draws at multiple W35 events in the past year.
She currently ranks as the No. 16 under-18 player in Australia, per UTR, but has previously been ranked as highly as No. 10. She boasts a career high ITF Juniors ranking of No. 379 in the world.
"I'm very excited that Audrey is joining our program this January," head coach Alison Ojeda said. "Her family is world class, and in all honesty, I'm thrilled we get to coach another Aulia for four more years!"
The Aulia duo will become the first pair of sisters to compete together for the Lady Vols since Paula and Peta Kelly competed together from 1978 to 1982. The Kelly twins were the Lady Vols' first-ever All-Americans, first AIAW Individual Tournament representatives as a doubles pair, and hold the program record for doubles wins – career (156) and single-season (46). They, too, were Australians, hailing from Brisbane.
Lisa Kamigata (Chiba, Japan)
Kamigata, one of Japan's most revered junior players, has competed on the international circuit for the last multiple years, playing matches throughout her native Japan, Belgium, France and Turkey during the last year.
In October of 2024, Kamigata earned a spot in the main draw at the 2025 Junior French Open, the flagship clay court juniors championship, contested at the historic Roland Garros grounds. She earned her spot by winning the Roland Garros Juniors Series event in Tokyo, conquering a field of 16 of the most talented young players across Asia.
Sarah Mildren (Adelaide, Australia)
Mildren, like Kamigata, arrives on Rocky Top with a resume featuring high-level international junior competition. Throughout her career on the ITF junior circuit, she has collected two singles titles and four doubles titles. In August, Mildren reached the final of the J200 event in Sydney, her best career finish at that level.
She also reached the singles quarterfinals at two women's professional events in Australia this summer, the W15 in Tweed Head and W35 in Swan Hill.
Mildren was awarded the Gwen Thiel Memorial Trophy by Tennis Australia, presented to the outstanding 18-and-under tennis player in South Australia, a region rich with tennis talent. In 2024, she won Australia's 16-and-under national championship, earning a wild card bid to the Australian Open Juniors Championships.
"It is so important to find players who are not only good tennis players, but also people who fit what our program is all about – respect," Ojeda said of her signees. "Sarah and Lisa are two very respectful, positive and joyful people to be around. They both love tennis and fell in love with the people here on campus. We are thrilled that they are joining our program, and we look forward to being a part of their tennis journey!"
Alyson Shannon (Plano, Texas)
Shannon has been dubbed a five-star recruit by Tennis Recruiting Network and ranks as the No. 29 recruit nationally and No. 2 recruit in the state of Texas for her class.
"One of the neat things about Aly Shannon joining our program this upcoming fall is that I have had a couple of years to really get to know her and her family," Coach Ojeda remarked. "They are incredibly supportive and always excited to talk about Aly's development in a healthy way.
"She's also currently training at Lakes Tennis Academy in Dallas with some amazing coaches, Mario Toledo, Former Vol and All-American, being one of them! So, she comes to Tennessee already understanding and embracing what our program is all about."
Shannon has competed in multiple pro-level events as she approaches her collegiate career, featuring in multiple UTR-PTT events in recent months.
She has also competed at the highest level of the USTA juniors circuit, logging wins at USTA's under-18 National Winter Championships, National Spring Championships, Battle of the Sections, and Billie Jean King Girls 16-18 National Championships.
Players Mentioned
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