Columbia News

The University of Missouri has announced that Julie Bedard will join the Tigers women's tennis team as a sophomore transfer for the 2025-26 season. Bedard, who previously played at Auburn, is the second transfer signed by head coach Bianca Turati for next season, alongside graduate student Michelle Kleynerman.

During her freshman year at Auburn, Bedard achieved a 7-6 record in singles and a 7-4 record in doubles during the fall. She qualified for the main draw at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southern Regionals and won three doubles matches at the Roberta Alison Fall Classic.

Bedard comes from Louisville, Kentucky, where she was ranked as the third-best recruit in her state according to Tennis Ranking Network. She held an International Tennis Federation Junior ranking of 635 and collected three J30 doubles titles, one J30 singles title, and was runner-up in doubles at a J60 event.

Her mother also played tennis at Auburn in 1991 before competing professionally.

Coach Bianca Turati commented on Bedard's arrival: "I am very excited to welcome Julie to our team this coming fall. Transferring from Auburn, she is familiar with the competitiveness of the SEC and understands the toughness and intensity necessary to play at a high level. Julie has a ton of potential and love for the game. She also has unmatched work ethic and is determined to make a strong impact on our team. Her strong personality is a perfect match for our culture here. I am looking forward to welcoming her in August and starting to work together to achieve our goals."

For updates on Missouri Tigers women's tennis, fans can visit MUTigers.com or follow their social media accounts on Facebook (Mizzou Tennis), X (@Mizzou_Tennis), and Instagram (Mizzou.Tennis).