MGCCC women grab a victory

PERKINSTON — A shorthanded Mississippi Gulf Coast women's tennis team got its first win of the season Friday, beating Holmes 5-4 at the MGCCC Tennis Complex.

"It's a great effort on their part," Lady Bulldogs coach Gary Bourgeois said. "Sometimes we put expectations them because of some adversity, but they showed me today there are no limitations on their expectations."

Gulf Coast only had five players, meaning they had to default at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles. Margarita Lopareva (So., Moscow Russia/School No. 1101) and Megan Bankston (So., Gulfport/Gulfport) won No. 1 doubles together, then each grabbed singles points.

Ivy Savell (Fr., Corinth/Corinth), a member of the Gulf Coast soccer team, has only been on the court a few days and didn't drop a game in her No. 5 singles match. Chloe Fell (Fr., Bury, England/Woodhey), another soccer player, battled back from a set down to force a third-set tiebreaker, eventually falling 10-8.

"They are really competitive and I'm proud of their effort," Bourgeois said. "Holmes is a good team, and we had to win. We weren't given anything today."

The Lady Bulldogs travel to Southwest on Tuesday. The Bears have brought back tennis after a hiatus of several years. Matches will be played at Fernwood Country Club.

Results

Team: Gulf Coast 5, Holmes 4

Doubles

No. 1: Margarita Lopareva-Megan Bankston (GC) def. Alexis Kahmann-Khin Lwin (HCC) 8-3

No. 2: Kayla Douglas-Emily Evans (HCC) def. Destiny Davis-Chloe Fell (GC) 8-2

Singles

No. 1: Lopareva (GC) def. Kahmann (HCC) 6-0, 6-1

No. 2: Bankston (GC) def. Lwin (HCC) 6-0, 6-1

No. 3: Davis (GC) def. Douglas (HCC) 6-4, 6-1

No. 4: Evans (HCC) def. Fell (GC) 7-6, 4-6, 10-8

No. 5: Ivy Savell (GC) def. McKenzie Hunt 6-0, 6-0

For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.