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