MGCCC Women want to win hardware

PERKINSTON — The Mississippi Gulf Coast women's tennis team is headed into the 2024 season with strength in numbers. The Bulldogs were MACCC and Region 23 runners-up last season and hope a strong crew can let them take the next step this year.

"I see a lot of depth in doubles, and I'm really excited for every court in doubles," Gulf Coast coach Sam Blackburn said. "I think we can win every court to start the match. I think we can win on every singles court we play. I know we've got players top to bottom who can play."

The Bulldogs are tuning up for the season with a series of scrimmages against four-year schools ahead of the opener on Feb. 10. Gulf Coast will play Coastal Alabama-South at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., three days before starting MACCC play with their first home match against Itawamba.

Angela Moreno (So., Sevilla, Spain/IES V Centenario) returns as one of the international players. A team leader last year, she's doing it again.

"She's doing a great job as a captain, and she's playing the best tennis I've seen her play," Blackburn said. "She's hitting the ball big. Her confidence is through the roof, and I think she believes she can hang with and beat anybody."

The conference expanded the out-of-state player limit by one this year, so Danique Vermue (Fr., 's-Heerenhoek, Netherlands/Scheldemond College) and Valeria Callejo (Madrid, Spain/I.E.S. Ortega y Gasset) have joined the squad.

"They've improved consistently since we started practice in August," Blackburn said. "They're confident, getting better, moving well. I know that's going to continue during the season."

Niyah Strickland (So., Pachuta/Quitman) is the other team captain, and she drives the team's energy with her leadership. Kendall Burn (So., Wiggins/Stone) was an All-MACCC performer as a freshman.

In-state freshmen include Dallas Tanner (Fr., Hattiesburg/Oak Grove), Clare Conliff (Fr., Hattiesburg/Sacred Heart), Mikenzy Dubrow (Fr., Biloxi/Biloxi) and Lauren Sullivan (Fr., Laurel/Laurel Christian).

"They're all doing well," Blackburn said. "They've embraced and bought into how we do things at Gulf Coast, and it's been working. I'm excited as s young team to see how they get better."

Jones, which won the conference and region titles last year, figures to be one of the fighting for the top of the heap. Meridian also has a squad that will make waves. 

For more information on MGCCC's 11 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCBulldogs on Twitter and MGCCCBulldogs on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.