Bulldogs win 21st straight against MACCC foes
WIGGINS — The Mississippi Gulf Coast men's tennis team picked up right where it left off in 2021, sweeping past Hinds 8-1 in the season opener at the Wynn Tennis Center.
The defending MACCC and Region 23 champions won their 21st straight regular-season match against in-state opponents. The Bulldogs' last loss was in February 2020.
"The guys came out strong, and in doubles took care of business," Gulf Coast coach Sam Blackburn said. "They were put under pressure, which is good, and came out on top. Overall, it was a great day for the men."
Clay Fudge (So., Madison/Madison Central) and Pedro Molero (So., Maracaibo, Venezuela/U.E. Instituto Americano Joseph John Thomson) won at No. 1 singles, and Paul Gayk (Fr., Muelheim an der Ruhr, Germany/Berufskolleg Lehnerstrasse) and Anderson Dulaney (So., Long Beach/Long Beach) cruised at No. 2.
Jackson Ward (So., Gulfport/Gulfport) and Alex King (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) had a battle at No. 3, winning 9-7.
Molero fought back from dropping the first set at No. 2 singles, winning a third-set tiebreaker 10-6. That set up the
"Our depth proved itself as we cruised, really 3 through 6," Blackburn said. "Pedro played a really good player and came out on top. Paul was tested and it just wasn't quite his day."
Fudge, Dulaney, King and Ward dropped only 11 games between them in eight sets to slam the door on the Eagles.
The matches were played at the Wynn Tennis Center as the finishing touches are put on the MGCCC Tennis Complex resurfacing.
Gulf Coast hits the road Tuesday for another MACCC match. The Bulldogs will play in Fulton against Itawamba.
Results
Team: MGCCC 8, Hinds 1
Doubles
No. 1: Clay Fudge-Pedro Molero (GC) def. Kwanda Mbalenkwa-Abraham Gonzalez (HIN), 8-4
No. 2: Paul Gayk-Anderson Dulaney (GC) def. Chris Albert-Bryce Ramshur (HIN), 8-3
No. 3: Jackson Ward-Alex King (GC) def. Jacob Runnels-Justin Humphrey (HIN), 9-7
Singles
No. 1: Mbalenkwa (HIN) def. Gayk (GC), 6-2, 7-6
No. 2: Molero (GC) def. Gonzalez (HIN), 2-6, 7-5, 10-6
No. 3: Fudge (GC) def. Runnels (HIN), 6-1, 6-1
No. 4: Dulaney (GC) def. Albert (HIN), 6-3, 6-0
No. 5: King (GC) def. Ramshur (HIN), 6-2, 6-2
No. 6: Ward (GC) def. Cameron Courtney (HIN), 6-1, 6-1
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