MCC tennis looks to remain on top in 2010

The Meridian Community College tennis teams are set to begin their spring 2010 tennis season on February 25 when the MCC men travel to Fulton, MS to take on the University of Memphis. Both men’s and women’s teams will host Faulkner State at Northeast Tennis Center on Friday, February 26 with play set to begin at 1:00 p.m.

Both the Eagles and Lady Eagles are the reigning Region 23 champions.

The MCC men are returning seven sophomores from last year’s nationally -ranked team. The Eagles finished the season last year ranked number twelve.

Playing number one singles for Meridian will be Lucio Cangiano from Santos, Brazil.

“Lucio had a great freshman year and has played well in the fall,” said MCC tennis coach, Wanda McPhail.

Cangiano won the Southern Region ITA Championships in the fall and he and doubles partner Andres Cepede were the doubles finalist.

These two along with fellow teammates Gabriel Nicotra and Jeremy Purdum qualified to play in the National Small College Championships held in Mobile, AL in October 2009.

Cangiano will get a push from teammate and fellow Brazilian Gabriel Nicotra as well as Andres Cepede from Asunción, Paraguay.

Meridian will also expect big play from Jeremy Purdum, former Laurel High School standout and Wade Henderson from Pillow Academy who will compete for the number four and five spot.

Rounding out the lineup will be former Meridian High School player Kyle Dew and Brandyn Landry from Donaldsville, Louisiana.

The only freshman is Justin Giles who will have a hard time beating these sophomores out of a position, according to McPhail.

The Lady Eagles return one sophomore from last year’s team, which finished in the top ten at the national tennis tournament held in Tucson, Arizona. The crop of incoming freshman are all good players from great high school programs.

“ I expect us to be as good as we were last year, “ said McPhail.

“If the freshman step up and play as well as they are capable of playing.”

“Anna Vavrik is hands down the number one singles player on the team,“ according to McPhail.

“I have to get her to practice with the guys a couple of days a week to prepare her for the season, she could possibly vie for the National Championship if she conditions and works hard.”

As a freshman she was named to the ITA All-American team and is currently ranked number seven in the nation at the JUCO level.

Aline Ferreira, a sophomore transfer from Hinds Community College, will also play a big role in MCC’s success this spring.

“She is a solid player with beautiful ground strokes,” said McPhail.

Freshman Savannah Zachry, former Madison High School standout, will play the three position.

Jessica Halterman of East Webster will push her for this position.

Rounding out the lineup is another former East Webster player Kaley Allen, a Louisiana native, Indi Mire, Sumner Brown former Lamar High School player who has transferred in after Christmas, and West Lauderdale players Shelley Munn and Ashley Massey.

Anna Vavrik and partner Savannah Zachry won the girls’ doubles and Anna won the singles division at the Southern Region ITA Championships qualifying both players for the National Small College Championships that were held in October at Mobile, AL.

According to Coach McPhail the Eagles and Lady Eagles are anxious to begin play.

“The weather has certainly put a damper on our practices and play so far this spring.,” said McPhail.

Earlier matches for MCC were cancelled due to snow and ice.