Askin-Garman lead MGCCC to 12th place
Bayley Askin and Abigail Garman won their consolation bracket championship Tuesday, helping No. 13 Mississippi Gulf Coast move up an important spot at the NJCAA Women's Tennis Championship in Tyler, Texas.
The victories moved the Bulldogs into a tie for 12th place in the final standings with MACCC rival Jones. Gulf Coast finished with 15 points. Other MACCC teams included 18th-place Meridian with nine points and 20th-place East Central with 8.5.
Askin (So., St. Martin/St. Martin) was named the Jovana Vasic Spirit of Competition Award winner for the tournament. The award pays tribute to a former St. Petersburg College student killed in a traffic accident in 2011.
Garman (So., Diamondhead/Hancock) and Askin blanked their Central Alabama opponents in the No. 3 doubles consolation semifinals, winning 8-0. In the championship match against Camila Flores and Abby Kelly from USC Sumter, the Bulldog tandem won easily, 8-3.
"They played amazing tennis together today," Gulf Coast coach Sam Blackburn said. "They played lights out, especially in the that final match. They started out hot and didn't slow down. I'm really proud of them."
Askin made it to the No. 3 doubles consolation finals last year, too, but lost to a seeded team. Garman made it to the No. 5 singles consolation finals last year.
They cruised so easily through their Monday quarterfinal match they got back on the court for another hour of practice, which paid off the next day.
Kendall Burn (Fr., Wiggins/Stone) and Hayden Hensarling (So., Ocean Springs/Ocean Springs) lost their No. 2 doubles to Eastern Florida State's Gloria Barcaro and Emma Sanchez.
"As a team, we did really well," Blackburn said. "One of the goals coming into the tournament was for everybody to play for each other and leave it all on the court. I think we did that. We walked away with a good ranking. I think it's mission accomplished."
NJCAA Division I Women's Tennis Championship
Joann Medlock Murphy Tennis Center
Tyler, Texas
May 6-10
Tuesday Results
Consolation Bracket Doubles Semifinals
No. 2: Gloria Barcaro-Emma Sanchez (Eastern Florida State) def. Kendall Burn-Hayden Hensarling (Gulf Coast), 8-3
No. 3: Bayley Askin-Abigail Garman (Gulf Coast) def. Jefflyn Deloach-Karsen Kelley (Central Alabama), 8-0
Consolation Bracket Doubles Final
No. 3: Bayley Askin-Abigail Garman (Gulf Coast) vs. Camila Flores-Abby Kelly (USC Sumter), 8-3
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