MCC Men's Tennis Completes National Tournament

From School Reports

The Meridian Community College men’s tennis finished in 21^st place at the NJCAA National Tennis Tournament played at Collin College in Plano, Texas May 11-16. At the tournament banquet, Meridian’s Kevin Millet was awarded the Region III (comprised of MS, KS, MI, OH, IN, IL, and AR) Arthur Ashe, Jr. Sportsmanship and Leadership Award as part of the ITA Awards program.

Play was delayed on Monday morning due to weather conditions.  Players were on the courts warming up for the eight o’clock matches at Collin CC and Plano East High School when play was cancelled due to lightning and rain.  Players returned to the courts at 11:00 a.m. and began the first round of play. 

In the Round of 32, MCC’s Kevin Millet lost to Luke Paeni of New Mexico Military Institute 6-2, 6-3.  In the back draw, Kevin lost to the #23 ITA-ranked singles player, Zach Dye, from Spartanburg Methodist College 8-1.  At number two singles, MCC’s TJ Carter lost a first round match to six-seeded Hamid Derbani from Laredo 6-0, 6-0.  TJ picked up a point in the back draw with wins over Moraine Valley’s Brad Smith 3-1 (ret. Inj.) and Prairie State Illinois’ Osiris Carroll 8-4.  In the semifinals consolation draw, TJ lost to Jonah Jakubec from ABAC 8-1. At number three singles, unseeded Chris Mallette of MCC drew a Bye the first round but then fell to Johnson County’s Taylor Smith 6-3, 6-2.  In the consolation draw, Mallette lost to MMI’s Jake McDonough 8-1.  At four singles Meridian’s Judson Watson  was hoping to pick up a win against College of DuPage’s arindam k. mukheriee but lost 6-1, 6-2.  In the back draw Watson played top-ranked Collin County’s Matthew Bolster and lost 8-0.  The number five single’s player from Meridian, Reed Wade, drew a bye the first round but then had to play Seminole’s Aramis Azucey falling 6-1, 6-0.  In the back draw, Wade lost to Prairie State, IL 8-4.  MCC’s six single’s player, Christian Jackson, fell in his first round of play to Seminole’s Mitchell Vechione 6-0, 6-1. He then lost to Johnson County’s Conner Melton 8-6.   

In doubles play, Meridian’s one doubles, Millet/Mallette,  lost their first round to Oakton CC (Illinois) 6-4, 7-6 (4).  In the back draw, the duo lost to Lewis and Clark 8-3.  Meridian picked up four points at number two doubles and number three doubles.  The MCC duo, Judson Watson/Christian Jackson, defeated Pima’s Henkel/Medina 6-1, 6-4.  In the round of sixteen, Jackson/Watson fell to Johnson County’s Taylor Smith/Kristopher Snider 6-1, 6-4.  At three doubles, TJ Carter/Reed Wade defeated Lewis & Clark’s Miller/Melton 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.  They then lost to Prairie State’s Carroll/Horvath 6-3, 7-5.  ASA (New York) won the national by defeating Tyler Junior College.  For final results, visit  https://t.co/YE6y4mOIaL.