MCC Tennis Competes on National Stage

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College men's tennis tennis team picked up their first loss of the season on Friday at the Oklahoma Tennis Center in Oklahoma City, OK in a match against the third ranked team in nation from Tyler Community College. At number one doubles, MCC's Pimenta/Goncalves lost to the #2 ranked team of Ferrer Calvo/Pardo  from the preseason rankings in the fall 8-3.

The number two team of Butler/Harrington fell to Lampasa/Brough 8-2; at number three doubles, Noah James/John Taylor Champion lost to Chris Anders/Philip Franken 8-1.  In singles, Jason Pimenta fell to the #1 ranked player from the fall rankings, Ferrer Calvo 6-2, 6-2. Breno Gocalves lost to Ciro Lampaso 1, 1. At 3, Noah James lost to Ryan Brough, the # 5 ranked player in the nation from the fall rankings, 0,1. The number 4, Sam Butler lost to Johan Cavelaris 1, 2. At number 5, MCC's Will Irvin fell 0,0 to Philip Fanake. At number 6 singles, Harrington (MCC) lost to Logan Powell 2, 0. 

In the second match of the day, Meridian pulled out a 5-4 decision over #13 New Mexico Military Institute.  Meridian picked up wins at six singles and three doubles by default.  MCC's other wins came at two doubles.  Butler/Harrington defeated Rodriguez/Collier 8-5. 

The other two wins for MCC came at number four singles from Sam Butler, who won 2, 1, and Will Irvin at number five singles, who won 0,0.  Meridian's number one doubles team of Pimenta/Goncalves lost to the #8 ranked doubles team in the preseason rankings of Herman Abban/Noureldin Adam 8-4. In number one singles, Pimenta lost a hard-fought close match to Herman Abban 3-6, 6-4, 10-5. The number two, Breno Goncalves lost to Noureldin Adam 3,3. 

Meridian was scheduled to complete play in the tournament in Oklahoma on Saturday before returning home next week for more conference matches. Meridian is now 16-1 on the season.