No. 13 MGCCC nets 2 more wins in Texas
No. 13 Mississippi Gulf Coast went 2-for-2 on Day 3 of the NJCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship on Monday. The Bulldogs grabbed a pair of wins in the doubles consolation brackets.
Gulf Coast was working through a scoring question late Monday afternoon, but the Bulldogs should wind up with 14 points through the first three days. That would put them in 13th place, one point behind Jones. The Bobcats have concluded all their matches.
Kendall Burn (Fr., Wiggins/Stone) and Hayden Hensarling (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) made quick work of Moraine Valley's Catherine Gerl and Aubree Schultz. They won 8-0 to move into the No. 2 doubles consolation semifinals, where they'll play Tuesday morning against an Eastern Florida State duo.
Burn and Hensarling picked up a full point in the team standings because that was their first match in the backdraw.
"Kendall and Hayden played lights out," Gulf Coast coach Sam Blackburn said. "They were moving well and on the same page. They played great doubles from start to finish, and they ran through the other team really quickly. That's what you want to do when you've got more days of tennis to play."
Bayley Askin (So., St. Martin/St. Martin) and Abigail Garman (So., Diamondhead/Hancock) grabbed another half-point for their second win in No. 3 doubles. They blasted Sauk Valley's McKenzie Hubbard and Roquelle Penaflor 8-3 and will play Central Alabama's tandem Tuesday.
"I think they knew they were the favorites in that match, and I think that put a little more pressure on them," Blackburn said. "Once they got past that initial feeling, they really played well. Being a favorite in a national tournament match can make you feel a little shaky."
The tournament wraps up Wednesday with championships in six singles and three doubles main and backdraw brackets.
NJCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship
Joann Medlock Murphy Tennis Center
Tyler, Texas
May 6-10
Monday Results
Consolation Bracket Doubles Quarterfinals
No. 2: Kendall Burn-Hayden Hensarling (Gulf Coast) vs. Catherine Gerl-Aubree Schultz (Moraine Valley), 8-0
No. 3: Bayley Askin-Abigail Garman (Gulf Coast) vs. McKenzie Hubbard-Roquelle Penaflor (Sauk Valley), 8-3
Tuesday Schedule
Consolation Bracket Doubles Semifinals
No. 2: Kendall Burn-Hayden Hensarling (Gulf Coast) vs. Gloria Barcaro-Emma Sanchez (Eastern Florida State), 11 a.m.
No. 3: Bayley Askin-Abigail Garman (Gulf Coast) vs. Jefflyn Deloach-Karsen Kelley (Central Alabama), 11 a.m.
For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
