MCC Tennis Competes on National Stage

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College tennis team was honored this week to send several players to participate in the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in Sumter, SC at the Palmetto Tennis Center.

Meridian's Jason Pimenta played the number three seed, Hironori Koyanagi (Ventura California), in one of the opening matches of the tournament on Thursday. Koyanagi came out swinging in the first set and, the match looked like like an uphill battle; however, Pimenta fought hard, made some adjustments in his game and won the second set 6-3.  

With the third set tied at 3-3, Pimenta ran into a little difficulty with his hand and was unable to play his game. Pimenta lost the third set 6-3 and will play Tyler Junior College's Ryan Brough on Friday  at 10:30.  Brough moved into the loser's side of the compass draw with a loss to the number two seed from Seminole State, Guy Iradukunda, who won the JUCO division of this tournament a year ago.  

In doubles, Meridian's Pimenta/Sam Butler, who were a late feed-in to the tournament, lost to the number one- seeded team  Guy Iradukunda/Ishmael Mzai from Seminole State 6-0, 6-2.  In the next round of the compass draw, the pair from Meridian lost to Harry Foster/Andrew Wright from Marion Military Institute 6-3, 4-6, 10-7.  The doubles pair will play Adam Bahney/Max Holloway on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in the last doubles' match.  Pimenta will play another match on Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.