NJCAA Region 23 Tennis Tournament Recap

Ellisville, MISS (MACCCAthletics.com) -- It was all Mississippi Gulf Coast and Jones at this weekend’s NJCAA Region 23 Tennis Tournament at Jones College, as the Bobcats and Bulldogs traded off men’s and women’s regional championships.

In the women’s regional, No. 12 Jones defeated the Bulldogs 5-0 to win their fifth regional championship since 2018. The Bobcats had previously defeated the Co-Lin Lady Wolves 5-0 to advance to the final. The Lady Bulldogs went through East Central to earn both a tournament final and national tournament bid.

Jones Women’s Tennis Head Coach Brooks Buffington won both MACCC and Region 23 Coach of the Year, as she led the Lady Bobcats to a 20-0 season.

In the men’s regional, No. 13 Mississippi Gulf Coast defeated Jones 5-1 to win their first regional championship since 2013.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Men’s Tennis Head Coach Sam Blackburn received the MACCC and Region 23 Coach of the Year award.

The MACCC’s tennis programs now turn their attention to the 2021 NJCAA Division I Tennis Tournament in Mesa, Arizona May 1-5. In addition to Mississippi Gulf Coast and Jones, Co-Lin’s Lady Wolves punched their ticket to the tournament by defeating East Central, 5-0 to earn third place in the tournament. Itawamba’s men’s tennis team will join MGCCC and Jones in the national tournament.

MACCC Men’s and Women’s Tennis All-Conference honorees were also named during the tournament. All-Conference honorees were voted on by a panel of the MACCC’s tennis head coaches.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

MACCC All Conference Team

Elizabeth Wooten, Hinds

Emi Smith, Hinds

Ralie Boles, Meridian

Harper Bryan, Meridian

Sarah Cline, East Central

Morgyn Brister,  Co-Lin

Susana Patino, Co-Lin

Krissy Georgieva, Mississippi Gulf Coast

Addy Seward, Jones

Andrea Vlasceanu, Jones

MACCC Player of the Year

Susana Patino, Co-Lin

MACCC Coach of the Year

Brooks Buffington, Jones

MACCC Team Runner-Up

Mississippi Gulf Coast

MACCC Team Champion

Jones College

No. 1 Doubles Runner-Up: Andrea Vlasceanu, Judith Mills (Jones)

No. 1 Doubles Champion: Susana Patino, Madison Shows (Co-Lin)

No. 1 Singles Runner-Up: Andrea Vlasceanu (Jones)

No. 1 Singles Champion: Susana Patino (Co-Lin)

MEN’S TENNIS

MACCC All Conference Team

Chambers Bethea, Hinds

Colin Hartman, Meridian

Matt Tennant, Meridian

Isaac Santitto, East Central

Chris Lawrence, East Central

Julian Toloza, Co-Lin

Ryan Myers, Jones

Trey Hilton, Jones

Clay Fudge, Mississippi Gulf Coast

Wesley Fontaine, Mississippi Gulf Coast

MACCC Player of the Year

Julian Toloza, Co-Lin

MACCC Coach of the Year

Sam Blackburn, Mississippi Gulf Coast

MACCC Team Runner Up

Jones College

MACCC Team Champion

Mississippi Gulf Coast

No. 1 Doubles Runner Up: Chris Lawrence, Isaac Santitto, East Central

No. 1 Doubles Champion: Julian Toloza, Julian Parada, Co-Lin

No. 1 Singles Runner Up: Julian Toloza, Co-Lin

No. 1 Singles Champion: Chris Lawrence, East Central