MGCCC tennis team stays competitive despite lack of experience

Lin Jacobsen returns a shot against Pearl River Mar. 10.

Charmayne Purvis (background) and Victoria Hagel have only lost one doubles match this season.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College tennis coach Gary Bourgeois continues to keep his young 2009 squad focused on the big picture and not on the season’s win-loss record. Bourgeois, the USPTA Miss. Coach of the year, wants his team to get better during the season and hopefully peak in time to earn a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament this May.

On Mar. 10 the Bulldog men’s team defeated Pearl River 5-4 at the Biloxi Tennis Center. Landon Williams, Glynn Bowman and Lin Jacobson all won their singles matches, while the teams of Williams/Bowman and Jacobson/Lang took home doubles victories.

The victory over Pearl River erased the sting of two earlier losses against Itawamba Mar. 7 (9-0) and Jones Mar. 9 (6-3).

The Lady Bulldogs continue to stay tough despite three straight defeats. At Itawamba, Victoria Hagel and Charmayne Purvis combined to win their doubles match, while both Hagel and Purvis won their singles matches. Against Jones, the Purvis/Hagel duo won another doubles title with Hagel earning a singles victory. Purvis and Hagel also made it three in a row by winning their doubles match against Pearl River. Megan Terrell, Hagel, and Purvis all scored singles titles against the Lady Wildcats.

Gulf Coast gets some rest time before returning to action Mar. 24 against Faulkner St. at Biloxi.