The East Central Community College Warriors had a great outing in the first round of the NJCAA DI National Tennis Tournament in Tyler, Texas on Monday. The Warriors picked up wins in three singles matches and one doubles match to rank third among MACCC schools in attendance.
The Warriors finished singles action in Tyler, 3-3, with wins coming in the No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 flights. Joseph Fletcher defeated Iowa Central's Andrew Kunaka 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2, while Ian Gordon grabbed a 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 4 against New Mexico Military Institute's Sebastian Solo. Kaleb Parish defeated Corey Engel of Sauk Valley, 6-4, 6-4, to round out the Warriors' wins.
Luke Sanders fell to Tyler Junior College's Mikar Fisher, 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1, Orren Ladner lost to Arturo Socias Salvo of Messa Community College, 6-2, 6-3 at No. 3, while Iowa Central's Theo Devals-Hamel defeated Samuel Turner, 6-0, 6-1 at No. 6 singles.
Sanders, Ladner, and Turner will all continue to play in the consolation bracket in singles play.
In doubles action, Parish and Turner picked up the Warriors' only win with a 6-0, 7-6 (5) victory over Coastal Alabama's Cam'Ron Crenshaw and Channing Townshend in the No. 3 flight. Gordon and Sanders fell to Paradise Valley's Branden Telle-Marty and Franco Toscano, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 while Fletcher and Ladner dropped a match to New Mexico Military Institute's Raul Davalos and David Palomares at No. 1, 6-3, 6-3. The two teams will continue play in the consolation bracket.
At the end of the day, the Warriors collected eight points as a team which places the Warriors tied for 8th place in the 25-team field.
Point totals after Day 1:
1. USC-Sumter- 16
2. Iowa Central CC - 14
2. Jones College - 14
2. Mississippi Gulf Coast CC - 14
5. Pratt CC - 12
5. Wallace State - 12
7. Lewis & Clark CC - 10
8. East Central CC - 8
8. Harford CC - 8
10. Collin College - 6
10. Jacksonville - 6
10. Paradise Valley CC - 6
13. Barton CC - 4
13. Hinds CC - 4
13. Meridian CC - 4
13. Mesa CC - 4
13. New Mexico Military Institute - 4
18. ABAC - 2
18. Coastal Alabama CC - 2
18. Eastern Florida State College - 2
18. Tyler JC - 2
22. College of Lake County - 0
22. Cowley CC - 0
22. Sauk Valley CC - 0
22. Seward CC - 0