By Shawn Wansley
JCJC Sports Information Director

ELLISVILLE – If it’s May, one can almost be assured of one fact: The Jones County Junior College Lady Bobcat tennis team will be playing in the national tournament.

For the fifth time in six years, the Lady Bobcats qualified for the NJCAA Division I Tournament by finishing third in the Region 23 Tournament in Meridian. That came on the heels of the team claiming its first state championship since 1996 by whipping the field in Hattiesburg on April 18.

“I thought we had a chance to be pretty good with the players coming back and the players coming in,” said tenth-year head coach Mark Easley. “We lost a girl after the fall semester, but when we got into the season, our freshmen and sophomores really stepped up and played well, especially at tournament time.

“They gave us an opportunity to go back to nationals and I’m very proud of them and very pleased with the way they played. Winning the state championship is something no one can ever take away from them. They can always say they were state champions.”

The tournament will again take place at the Randolph Tennis Center in Tucson, Ariz., Saturday through Thursday. The team will depart New Orleans on Friday morning and arrive in Arizona that afternoon. There will be a tournament meeting and practice rounds on Saturday. Singles matches begin on Sunday and doubles on Monday.

The strength of the Lady Bobcats has been in its sophomore leadership and depth.

South Jones sophomore Erica Walker plays No. 1 singles, while Quitman sophomore Rachel Whaley is at No. 2 singles. West Jones sophomore J.J. Benson teams with Northeast Jones freshman Meredith Johnson at No. 2 doubles.

“I can’t say enough about our sophomores,” said Easley. “Erica, Rachel and J.J. have really stepped up and competed and played well. It’s tough for Erica and Rachel because every time they go out there they have some tough matches to play against international players. But they go out and battle and they understand what they are up against. They are not going to run from a challenge and will do their best.”

Johnson also plays No. 3 singles, while Laurel’s Mary Carole Kiewit is at No. 4 singles.

“Meredith has come in and played well as a freshman,” said Easley. “She strained her rotator a little bit in the regionals, but she has been receiving treatment for that. Our training staff is doing a great job with her and she should be ready to go.

“Mary Carole won the state title and has had a great year. She is a steady player and does not say a lot. With her facial expressions and body language, you can’t really tell if she is winning or losing. She just stays on an even keel and keeps her emotions intact.”

Wayne Academy freshman Tiffany Hudson is at No. 5 singles and Oak Grove freshman Rebecca Rogers plays No. 6 singles.

“Tiffany won her position in the state tournament,” said Easley. “She is not an overpowering player, but she is going to make you play and earn those points. She is very steady and does not make a lot of mistakes.

“Rebecca started out mostly as a doubles player, but when J.J. hurt her ankle, we put her in at singles and she has really blossomed. She won her spot in the state. Rebecca needs to be a bit more consistent because sometimes she tries to make too many great shots. But she has played well and has really grown to love singles.”

Walker and Whaley team up at No. 1 doubles, Johnson and Benson are at No. 2 doubles and Rogers and Laurel freshman Jillian McNeese are at No. 3 doubles.

“Erica and Rachel are in the same situation in doubles as they are in singles,” said Easley. “They face tough people every time out, but they mesh well together. Meredith and J.J. won the state finals against a team (Hinds) that had beaten them twice, then barely lost a tough, three-set match to that same team in the regionals.

“Jillian and Rebecca won their spot in the state, as well. Rebecca provides some power and Jillian is a steady server and returner. She plays pretty smart doubles, too.”

The Lady Bobcats finished 23rd last year and have been right around the top 20 in every trip they have made to nationals. Easley said a top 20 finish is a good goal for the team to try and achieve.

“It’s a different environment,” he said of the nationals. “There will be over 30 teams competing and you really have two tiers of teams. The upper tier consists of 10-15 teams that are full of international players and they are really, really good. Then you have the next 15-20 teams that are fairly even and we can compete against them.

“Realistically, we know we can’t compete with those top teams, but we want to play well and finish as high as we can. A top 20 finish is a very successful trip. That’s just icing on the cake for us.”

Easley credits JCJC school president Dr. Jesse Smith, the administration and Board of Trustees with supporting the team on its trip to Arizona.

“The national tournament is a great reward for the team,” said Easley. “I cannot say enough about our administration and our board that back our athletes the way they do. We would not have a chance to make a trip like this unless they were all on board with us. Everything works out because they allow it to happen.

“We are very appreciative of that and they understand that’s part of the educational process, too. It’s a reward for them, makes great memories for them and it’s something that will last a lifetime.

“We will represent our school, represent ourselves and compete and play as well as we can. We just want to go out to Tucson, have a fun week, play some good tennis and have a great time.”

For more on the tournament, go to www.randolphtenniscenter.com.