MCC men's tennis claims State/Region title

The Meridian Community College Men's Tennis Team swept the Region XXIII/MACJC State Championships held at Northeast Tennis Center in Meridian, MS this weekend.

Meridian claimed all nine titles and scored 36 points to outdistance their nearest opponent Itawamba CC who had 20 points. Jones Junior College was third with 17 points.

The three top teams qualified to participate in the National Junior College Championships to be held in Plano, Texas May 14-18. This will be the sixth consecutive appearance for Meridian Community College at the nationals.

In no. 1 singles Scott McNamara of MCC received a bye the first round as the top seed. He then beat Riley of Holmes CC 6-0, 6-0. In the semis he defeated James Harris of ECCC 6-3, 6-3 and then downed fellow Australian from Gulf Coast, Brett Little 6-3, 6-3.

In the no. 2 singles, Nicolas Zabrodiec of MCC, the no. 1 seed, had a bye the first round; he then defeated John Harris of ECCC 6-4, 6-2. In the semis he beat Muffuletto of Hinds 6-2, 6-3. He won the final match 6-1, 6-0 by defeating JCJC's Matt Hill 6-2, 6-3.

At the no. three singles No. 2 seeded Mickey Renfore of MCC had a bye the first round; he then defeated Barrett of Pear River 6-0, 6-1, Langston of CoLin 6-0, 6-0 and JCJC's Ryan Brister 6-2, 6-1.

At the no. 4 singles no. 1 seeded Blake Sherman had a bye the first round; he then defeated Lord of Southwest 6-0, 6-0, Pastorek of JCJC 6-4, 6-1 and ICC's Mark Taylor 6-0, 6-1.

At no. five singles no. 2 seeded Joe Meek had a bye the first round. He then defeated Holmes Chris Prevost 6-0, 6-0; CoLin's Peckham 6-4, 6-0 and in the finals defeated Neal Alford of ICC 7-6, 6-4.

At no. six singles, no. 1 seeded Scott Truesdale had a bye the first round; He then defeated Pierce of Southwest 6-0, 6-0, ICC's Chuck Busby 6-2, 6-3 and in the finals defeated Charles Nerren of JCJC 6-1, 6-0.

In doubles' action, MCC clained all three spots. All three doulbes for MCC had entered the tournament as the no. 1 seed.

At no. 1 doubles Scott McNamara/Mickey Renfore defeated Brett Little/Fitzgerald in the finals 0-6, 6-3, 6-3. This was the only set MCC lost during the entire tournament.

At no. 2 doubles the team of Joe Meek/Nicolas Zabrodiec defeated ICC's Derek Klipstein/Nathan Russell in the finals 6-2, 6-4. At no. three doubles MCC's Scott Truesdale/Blake Sherman cruised through the final match defeating ICC's Chuck Busy/Neal Alford 6-0, 6-0.