No. 12 Bulldogs start strong in Texas
No. 12 Mississippi Gulf Coast got off to a great start on Day 1 of the NJCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship in Plano, Texas.
"The four matches we won today were against good teams," Gulf Coast coach Gary Bourgeois said. "I think everybody's really focused. They know our mission and our goal to finish highest among teams from Mississippi."
In No. 1 singles, Travis Bell (So, Jackson/Calloway) defeated Lake County's Alex Tobias 6-0, 6-1, and Austin Vos (Fr, Perth, Australia/Applecross) beat Pima's Francisco Sotelo 6-2, 6-1 at No. 2.
Reid Cudd (So, Wiggins/Stone) rallied to beat Marion Military's Connor Higginbotham 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
"Reid got off to a slow start," Bourgeois said, "but he came on really strong."
Only one Bulldogs doubles team played Monday. Bell and Vos beat Eastern Florida State's Alwyn Mushonga and Andreas Wejs 7-5, 6-2 to get MGCCC to eight points on the day.
"The beat a Florida team that was really solid," Bourgeois said. "If they keep playing like that, they can definitely make some noise."
The other two doubles tandems got first-round byes, which means Tuesday's second-round matches will be worth three points each.
"There are so many good teams," Bourgeois said. "Any time you get an opportunity like this, you have to capitalize on it. There aren't a lot weak players or teams. If you're equal, that's the greatest chance you've got."
There is a chance of rain Tuesday, which may juggle the schedule. Consolation draw matches will begin on Wednesday. Brackets and results can be found at http://www.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/draws.aspx?id=F5C370C3-46B6-4ED3-A47F-09A6D92D7F15.
"I'm very happy with the first day's results," Bourgeois said. "I think we're off to a much better start than last year, and everybody's optimistic about tomorrow."
NJCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship
Plano, Texas
First Round
Monday
Doubles
No. 1: Travis Bell-Austin Vos (MGCCC) def. Alwyn Mushonga-Andreas Wejs (Eastern Florida State) 7-5, 6-2
No. 2: Noah Rowell-John Murphy (MGCCC) bye
No. 3: Evan Chubb-Reid Cudd (MGCCC) bye
Singles
No. 1: Travis Bell (MGCCC) def. Alex Tobias (Lake County) 6-0, 6-1
No. 2: Austin Vos (MGCCC) def. Francisco Sotelo (Pima) 6-2, 6-1
No. 3: Lachlan Napier (Seminole) def. John Murphy (MGCCC) 6-1, 6-2
No. 4: Yohann Prinsen (Mesa) def. Evan Chubb (MGCCC) 6-3, 6-1
No. 5: Reid Cudd (MGCCC) def. Connor Higginbotham (Marion Military), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
No. 6: Jeff Martin (Mesa) def. Austin Moore (MGCCC) 6-2, 6-2
Tuesday schedule
Main draw
Doubles
No. 1: Travis Bell-Austin Vos (MGCCC) vs. (6) Hugo Lobo-Nick Rousset (Seward), 1 p.m.
No. 2: Noah Rowell-John Murphy (MGCCC) vs. Valter Oshiro-Gaston Walitzky (Wallace State), 1 p.m.
No. 3: Evan Chubb-Reid Cudd (MGCCC) vs. Nicklaus Neal-Leonardo Zancheta (SC-Sumter), 2:15 p.m.
Singles
No. 1: Travis Bell (MGCCC) vs. (4) Juan Cruz Scoppetta (Laredo), 8 a.m.
No. 2: Austin Vos (MGCCC) vs. Prince Gbadamosi (Seminole), 8 a.m.
No. 5: Reid Cudd (MGCCC) vs. (1) Drew Brown (Tyler), 10:30 a.m.
For more information on MGCCC's 10 intercollegiate athletic teams, follow @MGCCCAthletics on Twitter and BulldogLIVE on Facebook, and go to mgcccbulldogs.com.
