Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

4/22/2008
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC tennis teams qualify for nationals

OVERLAND PARK, KS -- The Johnson County Community College  men’s and women’s tennis teams recently earned a berth to their respective NJCAA National Tournaments, placing in the top three at the Region VI Championships last weekend in Wichita, Kan. The men finished second behind Barton County, and the women were third behind Barton County and Seward County. This will be the men’s 25th appearance in the last 26 years. For the Lady Cavaliers, it marks their 20th overall appearance, and 14th straight.  The men’s national tournament will be held in Plano, Texas, May 12-16, and the women will travel to Tucson, Ariz., May 4-8.

On the men’s side, JCCC players reached the finals in four of the six singles brackets, and two of the three doubles competitions. In singles play, only Luis Costa Sperb came away a region champion, downing Victor Pinones of Barton County, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 to win the No. 5 singles bracket.

Finishing runner-up in singles play were freshman Taj Harrison at No. 1, sophomore Adam Rens at No. 3, and freshman Zach Buenger at No. 4. Sophomore Dylan Gatton at No. 2 and sophomore Keith Pipkin at No. 6 won their third-place matches.

In doubles play, Rens and Buenger were region champions at the No. 2 spot. The duo opened with a straight set 7-6, 6-2 win over Cowley’s No. 2 team, then won the title with a 8-6 win over Barton County. Costa Sperb and his partner Zach Alholm reached the finals at No. 3 doubles, but lost a hard-fought match to Barton County, 3-6, 6-2, 2-6.

On the women’s side, JCCC reached the finals in only two brackets, No. 3 and No. 6 singles. Sophomore Jen Ackerly captured All-Region honors with a victory at the No. 6 spot. She recorded an impressive victory over Alyssa Larson of Seward County, 6-1, 6-3. She downed Barton County’s Aleix Crowther, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in her semifinal match.

Sophomore Marie Cellitti also played for a championship at the No. 3 spot, but lost to Nyska Etienne of Barton County, 3-6, 2-6. She advanced to the final match with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Julian Boas of Seward County.

Sophomore Shelly Barger and freshman Allison Bloom each won their third place matches, Barger at No. 2 singles, and Bloom at No. 5.

In doubles play, all three JCCC teams finished third in their respective brackets. Sophomore Claudia Voicu and Barger at No. 1 doubles beat Seward County’s top team, 6-1, 6-2 in their third place match. Bloom and sophomore Natalie DeJesus defeated Hutchinson’s No. 2 team, 6-1, 6-4, and at the No. 3 spot, Cellitti and Vika Schnose posted a 6-1, 6-1 win over Cowley’s No. 3 team to win third place overall.