MCC Tennis players ink with NCAA programs

(MERIDIAN) - Meridian Community College tennis coach, Wanda McPhail, has announced that three of her Lady Eagles sophomore players signed national letters of intent to play for NCAA programs.

Kayla Daughtrey of Laurel, MS; Ashton Hartley of Clinton, MS; and Katy Shoptaugh of Baton Rouge, LA all put pen to paper on Wednesday.

Last weekend Daughtry, Hartley and Shoptaugh helped lead their team to their second-straight NJCAA Region 23 Tournament Championship.

The Lady Eagles advance to the NJCAA Women's Tennis National Championships which will be played next weekend. Last season as freshmen, Daughtrey, Hartley and Shoptaugh helped MCC to a final national ranking and finish of 10th at the National Championships.

Daughtrey is a graduate of Northeast Jones High School and is the daughter of Paul and Christi Daughtrey. The Laurel native signed with Missouri Western State University, a member of NCAA Division II and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

As a freshman she played number 5 singles for the Lady Eagles. She ended her freshman season with an 18-3 record. As a sophomore at the number 5 spot, she had an 18-4 record for the season. She has an impressive 36-7 singles record during regular season play at MCC posting wins over perennial powerhouses Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and Central Florida Community College.

“Kayla has a tremendous desire to win; she surprises her opponents as she appears so laid back but hates to lose,” said McPhail.

“She has matured much during her two years at MCC We wish Kayla much success in the future.”

Hartley is a graduate of Clinton high School in Clinton, MS. She signed to play for Southeast Missouri State University, member of NCAA Division II and the Ohio Valley Conference.

She currently competes as the No. 3 singles player and No. 1 doubles for MCC. Last weekend she captured her second-straight No. 3 singles title at the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.

She compiled a record of 22-3 at No. 3 singles finishing the season ranked 41st by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA). She also finished ranked No. 8 in doubles. She captured Region 23 Championships in both No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles.

This past fall Hartley was ranked 58th by the ITA as her team was ranked 11th overall. This season her team is ranked 11th overall and 4th in the NJCAA Region III. Her current ranking is 23rd by the ITA in Region III.

She was a prep standout at Clinton High School where she was a two-time All-State selection. She was a two-time state finalist in doubles including winning the No. 1 doubles and No. 3 singles titles as a freshman. She was picked as the team MVP every season and was selected to the Mississippi Association of Coaches All-Star Team her senior season.

In 2005 she finished the season ranked No. 2 in singles and No. 1 in doubles in Mississippi. She received the George Wilkinson Award by the Mississippi Tennis Association that season.

Katy Shoptaugh is a graduate of Redemptorist in Baton Rouge, LA. She signed to play for NCAA Division II program, the University of West Alabama in Livingston.

She has played number 4 singles both years accruing a 17-3 record her freshman year and a 20-2 record her sophomore season. Her career record is 37-5 while at MCC. She has played number 2 doubles both years with different partners. As a sophomore she and Ashton Hartley, currently ranked number 37, finished the season with a 16-4 record; as a freshman she and Meridian native Kelly Sterling finished the regular season with a 17-4 record. Her career doubles record is 33-8.

“Katy works hard on the court; she has competed for two years without missing a day of practice or a match,” said McPhail.

“She brings laughter wherever she is which a wonderful trait to have is. We are very excited that Katy will be continuing her tennis career so close to Meridian. I know she will contribute immediately to the continued success of the UWA program. She joins a strong team of ladies who qualified for the conference tournament this year in a tough conference. We wish Katy all the best.”