By By Marty Stamper / EMG sports assistant
April 29, 2002
The Meridian Community College Eagles won the MACJC State/Region 23 Division II Tennis Tournament which was played in Hattiesburg over the weekend with the final match providing the margin of victory.
MCC finished Sunday's play with 27 points to capture the region championship. Itawamba and Gulf Coast were second with 25 points each and shared the MACJC state championship. Completing the 11-school tournament were Copiah-Lincoln (12), Jones (10), Pearl River (7), Holmes and Northeast (3), Hinds and Southwest (1), and East Central (0).
MCC will advance to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament at Plano, Texas, May 13.
MCC's Dustin Davidson and Kevin McDonald won the No. 3 doubles as they defeated Itawamba's Greg Simmons and Kevin Pierce 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the finals.
The Eagles finished first in two singles events as well.
MCC's Brad Dearman won the No. 4 singles with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Matt Wilson of Gulf Coast.
The Eagles also took the No. 5 singles championship as McDonald bested Jones' Scott Hill 6-2, 6-1.
Gulf Coast's Matt D'Angelo defeated Itawamba's Daniel Bustamante of Venezuela 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 in No. 1 singles.
Itawamba's Jorge Zabrodiec of Paraguay won the No. 2 singles with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Gulf Coast's Chad Sullivan.
Itawamba's Ron Winter took the No. 3 singles with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over MCC's Bobby Barton.
Gulf Coast captured the No. 6 singles as Jordan Walters beat MCC's Davidson 3-6, 7-6, 6-2.
In No. 1 doubles, Gulf Coast's D'Angelo and Sullivan beat Itawamba's Bustamante and Zabrodiec 6-2, 6-1 in the finals.
In No. 2 doubles, Itawamba's Winter and Matt Robinson defeated MCC's Barton and Dearman 6-1, 6-1.