Tennis turn focus to championship tournaments
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – The ICC tennis teams concluded the regular season against nationally-ranked Meridian Community College, a rivalry that echoes back many years for Hall of Fame tennis coach Paul Johnson and his programs.
The Indians improved to 13-1 with a 7-2 win over the No. 17 Eagles after sweeping through doubles play while Austin McElwain (Corinth), David McElwain (West Point), Cody Coins (Millington, TN) and Drew Ballard (Tupelo) picked up wins in singles play.
"It's always an intense battle when we face Meridian," said Johnson. "We've had some pretty intense matches with them over the years. It's developed into a really good rivalry and they'll be in the thick of things when it comes to the championships this weekend and hopefully we will too."
The Lady Indians fell to the No. 23 Lady Tigers 7-2 to fall to 8-6 on the season. No. 1 doubles duo of Kristen Eley (Mumford, TN) and Taylor Patterson (Olive Branch) defeated Mallory Davis and Jenni Smith 8-6 while Eley defeated Davis 6-1, 6-0 in No. 1 singles play.
"We lost a good bit off last year's state championship team, but I feel like we can make a good run this weekend because I don't think we've reached our full potential and hopefully we can get into the swing of things in the championship tournament."
With the Meridian rejoining the conference, this season's tournament has combined to crown the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XXIII Championship.
"It's going to be a battle because it's a whole different mindset when it comes to these type tournaments," said Johnson. "There will be a lot of tennis played over three days and you have to be ready mentally to fight through a lot of challenges other than the person on the other side of the net."
Defending MACJC men's championship Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will host the championship tournament, which scheduled to run Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26 in Perkinston, MS.
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