Mercer Women's Tennis Competes at National Championship

MCCC women’s tennis completed their fourth season in NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Division I competition.  The Vikings were able to travel and compete in the NJCAA Division I National Championship held in Tyler, Texas May 6 ^th-10 ^th.  Mercer placed 25 ^th and earned 3.5 points at the National Tournament.

Sophomore Gwen Guidice (Hillsborough, NJ/Westfield HS) advanced in 3 ^rd Singles with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Macey Hill from Meridian CC (MS) in her first match.  Guidice lost her next match 0-6, 0-6 to National Runner-Up and All-American Isid Hernandez from Cowley College (KS).

Freshman Mercedes Medart (Liege, Belgium/Atlas College Genk) lost her first match at 2 ^nd Singles 0-6, 1-6 to Rosio Braga from St. Petersburg College (FL).  Medart did win her Consolation bracket match 8-2 over Bethany Lintner of College of Lake County (IL) before dropping a 1-8 Consolation Semifinal match versus Eastern Arizona College’s Raquel Rodrigues, who went on to win the Consolation bracket at 2 ^nd Singles.

In 1 ^st Singles, freshman Valeria Vargas Gilli (Valencia, Venezuela/Instituto Santa Cruz) lost 2-6, 2-6 to Central Alabama’s Blakely Valdez and again 1-8 in her consolation match versus Sofia Djunisijevic from Lewis & Clark Community College (IL).  Freshman Victoria Woodruff (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) lost her opening match at 4 ^th Singles, 0-6, 0-6 to Erianna Irvin from Wallace State CC (AL) and also lost her consolation match 0-8 to Jaena Morais of Seward County CC (KS).

In doubles matches, Vargas and Medart lost two hard fought matches at 1 ^st Doubles.  Vargas and Medart lost their opening doubles match 2-6, 2-6 versus Penido/Tsiang from Barton CC (KS) and dropped a 5-8 consolation match versus Diaz-Castillo/Florenza of Iowa Central CC.

The 2 ^nd Doubles team of Guidice and Woodruff also lost two hard fought matches.  Guidice and Woodruff lost their opening doubles match 3-6, 3-6 against USC Sumter’s Diaz Sanchez/Weterings and lost 4-8 in the Consolation Quarterfinals versus Bounds/Espey from East Central CC (MS).

The Vikings went 2-5 this season with just four players.  This meant the Vikings would forfeit three flights every match, putting Mercer at a great disadvantage each match.  The Vikings look forward to improving upon their fourth season of Division I Tennis.  Marc Vecchiolla completed his 26 ^th year as Head Coach of Mercer Women’s Tennis. Vecchiolla was assisted by Barb Pleva.

L to R: Assistant Coach Barb Pleva, Mercedes Medart, Victoria Woodruff, Valeria Vargas Gilli, Gwen Guidice, Head Coach Marc Vecchiolla