Lady Bulldogs tennis wants national tourney berth

PERKINSTON – Mississippi Gulf Coast missed a berth in the national tournament by one spot, and tennis coach Gary Bourgeois thinks the Lady Bulldogs can make that leap this year when the season starts Feb. 6 against Holmes.

"I've got a lot of experience coming back," he said. "If the new players mesh with the older players, we're going to surprise a lot of people."

He thinks the addition of three talented freshmen will provide a boost, starting with Mexican junior star Paulina Estrada. She won singles at the ITA Regional Championship last fall and teamed with sophomore Katie Robinson to win the doubles.

Estrada had to get used to her new surroundings, having graduated high school in July and arriving in Perkinston in August. Her coach has seen her settle in, and her fellow players have made her welcome by taking her to their homes on weekends.

"She came here ranked high in Mexico, so I knew she had experience," Bourgeois said." The new arena she was in made her nervous, but now she's lights out. She's much more comfortable. Her conditioning is good."

Estrada returned to Mexico over the holidays, where Bourgeois said her mom was especially happy with her 4.0 GPA.

Robinson has been fighting knee problems, but will bring her good strokes and big-match experience to the No. 2 singles position.

Lexi Johnson has returned after going to Ole Miss in the fall. She helps fill the void of Hannah Wegner, who decided to go to a four-year school this spring.

She also returns as a partner with Angel Seals in No. 2 doubles. They went to the MACJC finals last year.

Karah Younger blossomed late last season and gained valuable experience.

"Last year, she wasn't on the radar before the season," Bourgeois said. "She made it to the finals of No. 6 singles (at state) and won the first set."

She couldn't close the deal but has learned from it.

Two other freshmen are key, with only a six-person squad. George County's Anna Stevison is an athlete who runs everything down and hits the ball hard. She's learning Bourgeois' system, and he's looking for her to be much improved by the end of the season.

"Jasmine Sartin has been lights out, playing good singles and doubles," Bourgeois said. "I worked with her as a junior player and she's come on really strong adjusting to the speed of the ball. She's really in good shape and she feels like she belongs."

The Lady Bulldogs' goal is a return to the national tournament, one that's achievable if they avoid injuries.

"I think we can finish in the top 3 in the state," Bourgeois said. "The young players, Paulina, Anna and Jasmine, they need to step up when their number's called. They have to come through."

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