Women's Tennis
.jpg)
2008 MMI Women's Tennis Team
Marion Military Institute will field its first women’s tennis team this year with Charles Wright as head coach. In addition to his coaching duties, Wright will serve as an instructor in the English Department.
Wright began his coaching career more than two decades ago in the high school ranks at Quigley Catholic High School in Baden, PA. Since that time he has coached both boys’ and girls’ teams at the following schools: Center High School, Monaca High School, Big Beaver Falls High School, and Hertford County High School. On the collegiate front, Wright coached the Penn State University – Beaver Campus Men’s Tennis Team to its first conference title in 1991.
A native of Rochester, Pennsylvania, Wright earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 1980, completed a Master of Arts degree in English from Slippery Rock University in 1984 and continued his education with additional graduate coursework from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
Women's Tennis Schedule
MMI Clips Judson College Eagles’ Wings 6-3, Sweeps Series
March 19, 2008
Marion, Ala.—The Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers bounced back from a 2-1 doubles deficit to defeat the Judson College Lady Eagles 6-3 Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Tigers secured the win by winning five of the six singles matches.
The closest of those singles matches was the No. 2 singles match between MMI’s Lindsay Morse and Judson College’s Keisha Swindle. After splitting sets, Morse tucked away the victory with a strong 6-3 final set.
Other singles victors for MMI were No. 1 Sarah Rowe (6-2, 6-0), No. 3 Whitney Dancaster (6-2, 6-1), No. 5 Veronica Wolf (7-5, 6-2) and No. 6 Lindsey Barber (7-5, 6-3).
MMI’s No. 2 doubles team of Lindsay Morse and Whitney Dancaster downed the Judson College tandem of Brittany Porter and Keisha Swindle, 8-4.
With the win, the Lady Tigers made it a clean sweep of their two-match series with their crosstown rivals. MMI nipped the Lady Eagles 5-4 in a match played on March 3.
MMI is now 4-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play. Judson College is 1-3.
MMI hits the road after Spring Break and heads down to play ACCC foe Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette on Tuesday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m.
Marion Military Institute
Judson College vs. MMI (Mar. 19, 2008)
MMI 6, Judson College 3
Mar. 19, 2008 at Marion, Ala.
Singles Competition
1. Sarah Rowe (MMI) def. Brittany Grimes (JC) 6-2, 6-0
2. Lindsay Morse (MMI) def. Keisha Swindle (JC) 7-5, 3-6, 6-3
3. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) def. Bailey Glassco (JC) 6-2, 6-1
4. Brittany Porter (JC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-1, 6-2
5. Veronica Wolf (MMI) def. Cheryl Bagby (JC) 7-5, 6-2
6. Lindsey Barber (MMI) def. Jordan Glassco (JC) 7-5, 6-3
Doubles Competition
1. Brittany Grimes/Bailey Glassco def. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) 8-1
2. Lindsay Morse/Whitney Dancaster (MMI) def. Brittany Porter/Keisha Swindle (JC) 8-4
3. Cheryl Bagby/Loretta Latch (JC) def. Lindsey Barber/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 8-3
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 4-6, 0-4 ACCC
Judson College 1-3
Marion Military Institute to Reinstate Men’s Tennis
March 18, 2008
Marion, Ala.--After a hiatus of nearly a decade and a half, Men’s Tennis will be back in full swing on the Marion Military Institute campus beginning in the fall of 2008. In an effort to bolster its athletic programs as well as its enrollment numbers, Marion Military Institute has decided to complement its Women’s Tennis program, which sprang into existence in the fall and spring semesters of 2007-08, with a Men’s Tennis program.
“It was only a matter of time, in my opinion, before the Men’s Tennis program made its way back into the Athletic Department’s lineup,” commented first-year Women’s Tennis coach Chuck Wright. “Men’s Tennis is a natural fit for the campus, especially with the great number of young men who go to school here. Even if they don’t play tennis, they can pick up a racket and learn the game quickly. We have a pool of talent here that is athletic and competitive and smart. Those are the three essential ingredients in the making of a good tennis player, and they’re all located here. This is a veritable gold mine for Men’s Tennis.”
In its heyday (the 1980’s and early 1990’s), Marion Military Institute Men’s Tennis, under the tutelage and guidance of legendary coach John McWilliams, was a consistent winner, competing almost annually for championships in what was then known as the Alabama Junior College Conference (AJCC).
Marion Military Institute, which will continue to compete in what is now known as the Alabama Community College Conference (ACCC), offers a total of nine men’s tennis scholarships and nine women’s tennis scholarships. The scholarships cover tuition, fees, and books. Uniform fees and room and board are not covered in the scholarship package. All athletes attend Marion Military Institute as Basic Cadets, and no military obligation is required.
Any young man or woman interested in a tennis scholarship should contact Coach Wright via phone at (334) 683-2366, e-mail at
cwright@marionmilitary.edu, or mail at Marion Military Institute, 1101 Washington Street, Marion, AL 36756, Attn: Coach Wright.
Snead State Routs MMI 9-0
March 10, 2008
Marion, Ala.—Snead State Community College crushed the Lady Tigers of MMI 9-0 on Monday afternoon to up its record to 5-3 on the year. The Lady Tigers saw their record slip to 3-6 overall and 0-4 in conference play.
In the marquee match of the day, MMI’s No. 1 singles player Sarah Rowe gave Snead State’s Cevannah Cox all she could handle before falling 6-3, 6-4. The last point of the match—a rat-a-tat-tat barrage of volleys between the two—underscored the competitive nature of the play.
“The match between Sarah and Cevannah was definitely the match of the day,” said MMI coach Chuck Wright. “The play of both girls was of a very high caliber. In an exhibition match played in October, Cevannah slaughtered Sarah. I think Sarah managed to win one game in two sets. This time around the match was very competitive. If Sarah could have won that second set, the third set would have been a very interesting one, to say the least.”
MMI plays Judson College this Wednesday, March 19 at 3:00 p.m. at The Paul B. Anderson Tennis Complex.
Marion Military Institute
Snead State Community College vs. MMI (March 10, 2008)
Snead State 9, MMI 0
March 10, 2008 at Marion, Ala.
Singles Competition
1. Cevannah Cox (SSCC) def. Sarah Rowe (MMI) 6-3, 6-4
2. Jane Bohlman (SSCC) def. Lindsay Morse (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
3. Ashley Cooke (SSCC) def. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 6-3, 6-0
4. Nancy Machen (SSCC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
5. Austin Collie (SSCC) def. Veronica Wolf (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
6. Sara McKnight (SSCC) def. Lindsey Barber (MMI) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles Competition
1. Cevannah Cox/Jane Bohlman (SSCC) def. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) 8-1
2. Ashley Cooke/Austin Collie (SSCC) def. Lindsay Morse/Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 8-1
3. Nancy Machen/Sara McKnight (SSCC) def. Lindsey Barber/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 8-1
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 3-6, 0-4 ACCC
Snead State Community College 5-3
Lady Tigers Claw Their Way to a 5-4 Win over Judson College
Mar. 3, 2008
Marion, Ala.--The Lady Tigers of MMI snatched victory from the talons of the Judson College Eagles this afternoon as they defeated their intracity rivals 5-4. Securing the win for the Lady Tigers was the No. 5 player, freshman Veronica Wolf, who led the charge of the neophyte netters. Wolf battled back from a one-set deficit to win the final two sets, 6-3, 6-0.
“Veronica put up a tremendous fight,” said MMI coach Chuck Wright. “Because Veronica never played tennis before this year, I was worried about her frame of mind after she lost that first set 6-4. However, she didn’t let that first set bother her a bit. She fought back with a vengeance.”
Lindsey Barber at No. 6 singles, another rookie racketeer, hammered her opponent, 6-2, 6-1. Barber teamed up at No. 3 doubles with Yury Pieczynski, yet another tennis tenderfoot, to zero in on an 8-0 victory.
“The rookies came through big time today,” Wright said. “I was impressed with their composure and poise. Those three young ladies—Wolf, Barber, and Pieczynski—played tremendously well. I never expected to pick up those three points. I would have been extremely pleased with two.”
Sarah Rowe, MMI’s No. 1 seed, continued her fine play, winning her third consecutive match, 6-1, 6-2.
Also landing in the winner’s circle were Lindsay Morse and Whitney Dancaster, MMI’s No. 2 doubles team. They came back from a 6-3 deficit to force a tiebreaker at 8-8. They squeaked out the 9-8 win by squeaking out the tiebreaker, 7-5.
Snead State Community College visits MMI tomorrow for a 2:30 contest at The Paul B. Anderson Tennis Complex.
Marion Military Institute
Judson College vs. MMI (Mar. 3, 2008)
Marion Military Institute 5, Judson College 4
Mar. 3, 2008 at Marion, Alabama
Singles Competition
1. Sarah Rowe (MMI) def. Brittany Grimes (JC) 6-1, 6-2
2. Keisha Swindle (JC) def. Lindsay Morse (MMI) 6-4, 6-3
3. Bailey Glassco (JC) def. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 7-5, 4-6, (10-4)
4. Brittany Porter (JC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 7-5, 6-3
5. Veronica Wolf (MMI) def. Jordan Glassco (JC) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
6. Lindsay Barber (MMI) def. Loretta Latch (JC) 6-2, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. Brittany Grimes/Bailey Glassco (JC) def. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) 8-4
2. Lindsay Morse/Whitney Dancaster (MMI) def. Keisha Swindle/Brittany Porter (JC) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Lindsey Barber/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) def. Jordan Glassco/Loretta Latch (JC) 8-0
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute (3-5, 0-3)
Judson College (0-1)
Sun Chiefs Scalp Tigers 8-1
Feb. 28, 2008
Marion, Ala.—The Faulkner State Community College Sun Chiefs were on the warpath Thursday and took no prisoners in an 8-1 decision over the Lady Tigers.
No. 1 singles player Sarah Rowe was the sole Lady Tiger to escape unscathed, capturing a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, (10-5) victory. After splitting sets, Rowe and Kari Williams slugged it out in a super tiebreaker for the third set, which was nip and tuck up until 5-5, when Rowe took control by coming to the net at 6-5 and forcing an errant shot from Williams to make it 7-5. Rowe won the three remaining points handily to win the match.
“The turning point in the match was the 6-5 point in the super tiebreaker,” said MMI coach Chuck Wright. “As soon as Sarah hit the ball and came in, I knew she had made a great decision. She put pressure on Kari at just the right time. That one move, that one point made the difference between winning and losing.”
The Lady Tigers remain at home for Monday’s match with intracity rival Judson College. The Judson College Eagles will land at The Paul B. Anderson Tennis Complex at 3:00 p.m.
Marion Military Institute
Faulkner State Community College vs. MMI (Feb. 28, 2008)
Faulkner State CC 8, MMI 1
Feb. 28, 2008 at Marion, Ala.
Singles Competition
1. Sarah Rowe (MMI) def. Kari Williams (FSCC) 6-2, 3-6, (10-5)
2. Allison Cameron (FSCC) def. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
3. Rebecca Bell (FSCC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-1, 6-2
4. Jordin Wiggins (FSCC) def. Veronica Wolf (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
5. Ashley Miller (FSCC) def. Lindsey Barber (MMI) 6-2, 6-1
6. Brittany Ellison (FSCC) def. Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 6-0, 6-0
Doubles Competition
1. Kari Williams/Brittany Ellison (FSCC) def. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) 8-4
2. Rebecca Bell/Allison Cameron (FSCC) def. Whitney Dancaster/Lindsey Barber 8-2
3. Jordin Wiggins/Heather Dent (FSCC) def. Veronica Wolf/Yury Pieczynski 8-5
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute (2-5, 0-3)
Faulkner State Community College (1-2, 1-1)
MMI Defeats Stillman College, 8-1, in Clash of the Tigers
February 25, 2008
Tuscaloosa, Ala.—The MMI Lady Tigers swept doubles play and captured five of six singles matches to down the Stillman College Lady Tigers, 8-1, in an afternoon match at Bower Park.
The Number 1 doubles team of Sarah Rowe and Joan Aquino paved the way to the doubles sweep with an 8-2 victory. Shortly thereafter, Lindsay Morse and Whitney Dancaster, the Number 2 doubles team, came through with an 8-4 win. The Number 3 doubles team of Lindsey Barber and Yury Pieczynski won by forfeit.
“Sarah and Joan played a smart match. They took the lead and never relinquished it. Sarah was consistent with her slice backhand and Joan plain pummeled some of those forehands,” said MMI coach Chuck Wright.
In singles play, Rowe (6-0, 6-0) and Morse (6-3, 6-1) won their matches in straight sets, while Whitney Dancaster eked out a three-set thriller, 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4. Veronica Wolf and Barber won by forfeit.
Rowe played a very fine match, and Morse played solidly throughout her match, pulling away in the middle of a tight first set. Dancaster, down 4-0 in the first set, finally pulled it together and won the first-set tiebreaker, 7-5. After losing the second set, she pulled her game together yet again in the third set, prevailing 6-4.
“The girls played a nice match,” Wright said. “We were sloppy in spots, but, on the whole, we played well when it counted.”
MMI returns home to face Faulkner State Community College on Thursday, February 28 at 1:00 p.m. at The Paul B. Anderson Tennis Complex.
Marion Military Institute
MMI vs. Stillman College (Feb. 25, 2008)
MMI 8, SC 1
Feb. 25, 2008 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Singles Competition
1. Sarah Rowe (MMI) def. Lauren Thomas (SC) 6-0, 6-0
2. Lindsay Morse (MMI) def. Andrea McCorvey (SC) 6-3, 6-1
3. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) def. Rosine Komayombi (SC) 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4
4. Adrienne Freeman (SC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-1, 6-2
5. Veronica Wolf (MMI) won by forfeit
6. Lindsey Barber (MMI) won by forfeit
Doubles Competition
1. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) def. Lauren Thomas/Andrea McCorvey (SC) 8-2
2. Lindsay Morse/Whitney Dancaster (MMI) def. Adrienne Freeman/Rosine Komayombi (SC) 8-4
3. Lindsey Barber/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) won by forfeit
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 2-4
Stillman College 0-4
Lady Tigers Lose Two by Identical 8-1 Scores
Feb. 23, 2008
Muscle Shoals, Ala.—The Lady Tigers lost their two matches Saturday by identical scores of 8-1 to Itawamba Community College and Northwest-Shoals Community College.
The lone MMI winners in the Itawamba match were the Number 2 doubles team of Lindsay Morse and Whitney Dancaster. They downed the doubles duo of Haley Huggins and Bethany Bounds, 8-5.
“They played some scrappy, tenacious tennis. All in all, that was the best doubles match that the two of them have played all year,” commented MMI coach Chuck Wright.
MMI’s Whitney Dancaster showed continued improvement in singles play. She rebounded from a first-set loss of 6-1 and took the second set into a tiebreaker before losing.
The Number 3 doubles team also played well, barely losing 10-8. “Lindsey Barber and Yury Pieczynski almost pulled off the upset special of the day,” Wright said. “When they went up 7-6, I thought they had the match in the bag.”
In the evening matchup between MMI and NWSCC, the Lady Tigers were overpowered in every match but one. Sarah Rowe, the Tigers’ Number 1 seed, recorded a straight-sets win over Melissa Wiser, 6-0, 6-4.
MMI is now 1-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play. ICC is 2-0, and NWSCC is 1-1.
The Lady Tigers continue their roadwork on Monday, February 25, traveling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for a 2 p.m. match with Stillman College.
Marion Military Institute
MMI vs. Northwest-Shoals Community College (Feb. 23, 2008)
NWSCC 8, MMI 1
Feb. 23, 2008 at Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Singles Competition
1. Sarah Rowe (MMI) def. Melissa Wiser (NWSCC) 6-0, 6-4
2. Lindsey Cole (NWSCC) def. Lindsay Morse (MMI) 6-1, 6-2
3. Katie Frye (NWSCC) def. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 6-0, 6-1
4. Shayna Glasgow (NWSCC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-0, 6-0
5. Kylie Ivey (NWSCC) def. Veronica Wolf (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
6. Keon Harris (NWSCC) def. Lindsey Barber (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles Competition
1. Melissa Wiser/Katie Frye (NWSCC) def. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) 10-3
2. Lindsey Cole/Shayna Glasgow (NWSCC) def. Lindsay Morse/Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 10-4
3. Keon Harris/Kylie Ivey (NWSCC) def. Lindsey Barber/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 10-0
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 1-4
Northwest-Shoals Community College 1-1
Marion Military Institute
MMI vs. Itawamba Community College (Feb. 23, 2008)
ICC 8, MMI 1
Feb. 23, 2009 at Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Singles Competition
1. Erin Boast (ICC) def. Sarah Rowe (MMI) 6-0, 6-1
2. Paula Sims (ICC) def. Lindsay Morse (MMI) 6-0, 6-1
3. Haley Huggins (ICC) def. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 6-1, 7-6 (6)
4. Bethany Bounds (ICC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-0, 6-3
5. Mallory Whitehead (ICC) def. Veronica Wolf (MMI) 6-1, 6-0
6. Megan Whitehead (ICC) def. Lindsey Barber (MMI) 7-5, 6-2
Doubles Competition
1. Erin Boast/Paula Sims (ICC) def. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) 8-0
2. Lindsay Morse/Whitney Dancaster (MMI) def. Haley Huggins/Bethany Bounds (ICC) 8-5
3. Mallory Whitehead/Megan Whitehead (ICC) def. Lindsey Barber/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 10-8
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 1-3
Itawamba Community College 2-0
CACC Tames Lady Tigers
Feb. 19, 2008
Marion, Ala.—The MMI women’s tennis team hosted three-time ACCC conference champion Central Alabama Community College Tuesday afternoon and found out the hard way why the Lady Trojans are a perennial contender for the conference crown, winding up on the very short end of a 9-0 score.
“Even though we were dominated in both doubles and singles, we did have a few highlights,” said first-year coach Chuck Wright. “Whitney Dancaster and Lindsay Morse, our Number 2 doubles tandem, played a fairly solid doubles match before narrowly succumbing 9-7. They had their chances, but they didn’t capitalize on them. In singles play, Lindsey Barber, our Number 6 player, acquitted herself well. She won the first set 6-4 but lost the next two 6-0, 6-0.”
The Lady Tigers’ record now stands at 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference play. MMI takes to the road this Saturday to play a triangular competition in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, with Itawamba Community College, another perennial junior-college tennis powerhouse from Itawamba, Mississippi, at noon, and Northwest-Shoals Community College at 2:00 p.m.
Marion Military Institute
Central Alabama Community College vs. MMI (Feb. 19, 2008)
CACC 9, MMI 0
Feb. 19, 2008 at Marion, Ala.
Singles Competition
1. Alex Mangum (CACC) def. Sarah Rowe (MMI) 6-2, 6-3
2. Lauren Grogan (CACC) def. Lindsay Morse (MMI) 6-0, 6-3
3. Emily Blackwood (CACC) def. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 6-3, 6-0
4. Kodi Bobo (CACC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-2, 6-0
5. Lindsey Eddy (CACC) def. Veronica Wolf (MMI) 6-1, 6-0
6. Ashley McCreight (CACC) def. Lindsey Barber (MMI) 4-6, 6-0, 6-0
Doubles Competition
1. Alex Mangum/Lauren Grogan (CACC) def. Sarah Rowe/Joan Aquino (MMI) 8-1
2. Emily Blackwood/Kodi Bobo (CACC) def. Lindsay Morse/Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 9-7
3. Lindsey Eddy/Ashley McCreight (CACC) def. Lindsey Barber/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 8-1
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 1-2
Central Alabama Community College 2-2
Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers Score a Pair of Firsts: The Thrill of Victory and the Agony of Defeat
Feb. 15, 2008
Jackson, Miss.— February 15, 2008, a Friday, proved to be a red-letter day for the Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers, as they downed Belhaven College, 5-4, to win the first women’s tennis match in school history; it also proved to be a black-letter day, as the Lady Tigers lost their first match in school history, 9-0, to Millsaps College.
“Due to injury and illness, Belhaven had to forfeit three matches—Number 5 singles, Number 6 singles, and Number 3 doubles,” said women’s tennis coach Chuck Wright. “Had they not had to forfeit three matches, the outcome could have been different. We might've won and we might not have."
Even so, the Lady Tigers still needed to win two additional matches to secure the win.
“I thought if we could win one of the two doubles matches, we would have a shot at winning the match,” Wright said. “And of those two matches, I thought our Number 2 doubles team of Whitney Dancaster and Joan Aquino was our best shot. Whitney is a very solid and steady player. Joan, on the other hand, can hit spectacular shots, but she can also hit shots that make your lunch lurch up in your throat.”
But lurching lunch was not on today’s menu. Instead, Aquino played brilliantly. “I never saw her attack balls like that,” marveled Wright. “She played like a woman possessed. I was really impressed with her net play. She was going after every ball that came near her. Once she develops dependable and consistent strokes, she's going to turn out to be a fine player.”
With Aquino’s inspirational play and Dancaster’s steadiness, the doubles duo registered the crucial doubles win, 8-2.
In singles play, Dancaster, like Emeril Lagasse, turned it up a notch, salting away a 6-4, 6-1 victory at Number 3 singles.
“At first, Whitney didn’t play too well,” Wright said. “I think nerves got the better of her. However, she calmed down in the second set, and though she still wasn’t her normal self, she did play much better.”
The thrill of victory did not last long, however, because, right around the corner, the agony of defeat lay in wait. The Lady Tigers retracted their claws and lost to Millsaps College, 9-0, in the nightcap.
“We need to learn how to win,” Wright said. “We had countless leads in the games, but we could not convert them into games. For instance, several of our teams let a love-40 lead slip through their fingers. Our girls would get these leads and then, all of a sudden, their shots would head south. They just don’t know when to dig in. That is the one crucial element that is lacking. If we can find that competitive desire, we will become a pretty good team."
Oftentimes in a defeat there lie the seeds of hope, and hope for the Lady Tigers is seeds 5, 6, 7 and 8 (Wolf, Barber, Pieczynski, and Riley). If those seeds bloom and blossom by spring, the Lady Tigers should have a pretty solid lineup from top to bottom. "Our 1 through 4 players are fairly solid and they have nice strokes. I think with match play they'll all come along nicely. And if we can complement those four good players with four more good ones, we'll have a well-balanced team. I think we are on the verge of that," Wright said.
Saturday’s scheduled matches with Austin College and Tougaloo College were cancelled because of rain.
The Lady Tigers return home to entertain Central Alabama Community College, the three-peat Alabama Community College Conference champions, on Tuesday, February 19 at 2:30 p.m. at The Paul B. Anderson Tennis Complex.
Marion Military Institute
MMI vs. Millsaps College (Feb. 15, 2008)
Millsaps College 9, Marion Military Institute 0
Feb. 15, 2008 at Jackson, Miss. (Millsaps College)
Singles Competition
1. Allison Zakaras (MC) def. Sarah Rowe (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
2. Beth Fossen (MC) def. Lindsay Morse (MMI) 6-1, 6-1
3. Beth Sadler (MC) def. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) 6-0, 6-0
4. Mary Kate Rees (MC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 6-0, 6-1
5. Mimi Nguyen (MC) def. Veronica Wolf (MMI) 8-0
6. Christina Brumfield (MC) def. Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 8-1
Doubles Competition
1. Allison Zakaras/Beth Fossen (MC) def. Sarah Rowe/Lindsay Morse (MMI) 8-1
2. Beth Sadler/Mary Kate Rees (MC) def. Whitney Dancaster/Joan Aquino (MMI) 8-0
3. Mimi Nguyen/ Haley Nemeth (MC) def. Veronica Wolf/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) 8-0
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 1-1
Millsaps College 2-0
Marion Military Institute
MMI vs. Belhaven College (Feb. 15, 2008)
Marion Military Institute 5, Belhaven College 4
Feb. 15, 2008 at Jackson, Miss. (Belhaven College)
Singles Competition
1. Kirby Smith (BC) def. Sarah Rowe (MMI) 6-0, 6-1
2. Neely Johnson (BC) def. Lindsay Morse (MMI) 6-0, 6-0
3. Whitney Dancaster (MMI) def. Beth Gunn (BC) 6-4, 6-1
4. Lindsey Berg (BC) def. Joan Aquino (MMI) 7-5, 2-6, 10-1
5. Veronica Wolf (MMI) won by forfeit
6. Yury Pieczynski (MMI) won by forfeit
Doubles Competition
1. Kirby Smith/Neely Johnson (BC) def. Sarah Rowe/Lindsay Morse (MMI) 8-2
2. Whitney Dancaster/Joan Aquino (MMI) def. Beth Gunn/Lindsey Berg (BC) 8-2
3. Veronica Wolf/Yury Pieczynski (MMI) won by forfeit
Match Notes
Marion Military Institute 1-0
Belhaven College 2-1
MMI Lady Tigers Will Create History in Their Visit to Eudora Welty Country
Feb. 11, 2008
Marion, Ala.- The Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers will visit the fictional territory of Eudora Welty this Friday, February 15th and Saturday, February 16th for a four-match swing through Jackson, Mississippi. In an historical moment for MMI, the Lady Tigers will play their first-ever Women’s Tennis matches. Although they won't be playing the fictional likes of Julia Mortimer, Phoenix Jackson, Gabriella Serto, Dicey Hastings, Edna Earle Ponder, and Virgie Rainey, they will be playing real flesh-and-blood teams from Belhaven College, Millsaps College, Austin College, and Tougaloo College.
Play begins on Friday at Belhaven College when the MMI Lady Tigers take on the Belhaven Blazers in a 1:00 p.m. match. At 4:00 p.m. the Lady Tigers travel a block or two to Millsaps College to compete against the Lady Majors.
Saturday play commences at 8:00 a.m. as the MMI Lady Tigers return to Belhaven College to compete against the Austin College Kangaroos from Sherman, Texas. The site of the noon matchup between MMI and Tougaloo College, which is located in Tougaloo, Mississippi, has yet to be determined.
Chuck Wright, MMI’s first-year Women's Tennis coach, expects these four games to be a bellwether for the season. “As Mississippi goes, so goes our season,” said Wright. “If we can come out of the gate and compete, we should do fine. However, if we come out flat and play with no enthusiasm, we could have a long two days in Mississippi. I’m hoping that the competitive fire has been lit and that the girls, even if they don’t win a match, will go out on the courts and give it their all. And if they give it their all and their all isn’t good enough, well, so be it. That’s what practice is for.”
With all due apologies to Miss Welty, this is One Tennis Team’s Beginnings, and the first chapter will be written this Friday and Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi.
Head Women's Tennis Coach Signs a "Taylor-Made" Recruit
Feb. 2, 2008
Marion, Ala.- Marion Military Institute head women’s tennis coach Chuck Wright announced that he has signed his first recruit since being named head coach in July 2007. Taylor Miller, a senior at Sebastian River High School in Sebastian, Florida, will be starting her Tiger career in the fall of 2008.
“I’m excited to welcome Taylor to our program,” said Wright. “She will have an immediate and tremendous impact on our fledgling program.”
Miller has been a stalwart singles and doubles player for Coach John Danise’s Sebastian River High School squad, having played #1 singles for two years and #1 doubles for three years. According to Coach Danise, “Besides her obvious tennis skills, I think Taylor is going to be a great team player. She is not afraid of accepting responsibility. When needed, she is there to take charge.”
“With her outstanding tennis and people skills, Miller is ‘Taylor-made’ for our school and our tennis program,” said Wright. “She is, quite simply, an extraordinary first recruit.”
.jpg)
It's Miller Time!
(Keith Miller, MMI tennis signee Taylor Miller, and Dara Miller on their recent visit to Marion.)
Serving Notice
Taylor Miller, the No. 1 singles and doubles player on the Sebastian River girls' tennis team, signs to continue her career at Marion Military Institute
By Laurel Scheffel
Friday, February 1, 2008
Sebastian River senior Taylor Miller is looking forward to being part of something new.
Miller signed a national letter of intent to continue her tennis career at Marion Military Institute, a junior college in central Alabama. The school's program is in its first season this year.
"It's a new team and a great opportunity," Miller said. "They are just starting out and will have a good team, and I would like to be a part of that."
Marion contacted Miller in late November, but she wasn't sure about her interest at first because she hadn't planned to attend a military school. However, she didn't dismiss the idea and soon saw the offer as a good opportunity.
"I was open to everything, but military school was not on the highest part of my list," Miller said. "It was kind of a surprise, but I looked at the Web site and it's a really good school. They gave me the opportunity to go there and I'm going to take it."
Miller recently talked to an old friend, who took a similar route last year and was assured by her decision.
Former Sebastian River tennis player Katrina Eromin is now playing at the Air Force Academy and told Miller she was happy with her decision to attend a military school, though it was difficult at first.
"I talked to her recently and told her about my offer, and she told me to take it, that it was a good opportunity," Miller said. "I really enjoyed hearing her say that."
The fourth-year starter for Sebastian River also received some encouragement from coach John Danise, who had been working with Miller since middle school.
Danise is an ex-Marine and holds a "fine regard for the military," but he also liked what he heard about Marion coach Charles Wright and thought the community college would be a good steppingstone for her career.
"The coach, I think, took an interest in the players beyond their tennis skills," Danise said. "I felt it would be a good mixture with all of Taylor's values, and it would provide her a little more discipline, so I thought it would be something to explore.
"I told her not to dismiss it because it's a military college, to examine it and see what she thought. I think it will be a very good place for her to go."
Miller enters this season at No. 1 singles and doubles and will be a co-captain for a second straight year. Danise said her strengths lie in knowing the game, and though she has all the strokes, she still has some growing to do.
"She hasn't become the tennis player she is capable of being yet, but as she gets physically stronger we will see that," Danise said. "They are not only getting a good tennis player at Marion but also a person very friendly, outgoing and not afraid to accept responsibility and a person who is respected by teammates."
Now Miller can enjoy her senior season without the concerns that go along with college planning.
"It's a big relief — now I don't have to worry about where am I going and I can look forward to my next tennis season after this," Miller said.
© 2008 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
MMI Women’s Tennis Concludes Fall Season
Nov. 10, 2007
Marion, Ala.- On Saturday, November 10th, the Women’s Tennis Team concluded its fall season with a 9-0 loss to 10th-ranked Meridian Community College at the Northeast Tennis Center in Meridian, Mississippi. All in all, the combination of tournaments, exhibition matches, and practices has brought this young team to the brink of victory.
“We have come a long way from where we started in August,” explained first-year coach Chuck Wright. “Essentially, the team is comprised of four players who have never picked up a racket in their lives, three players who have picked up a racket and dabbled at playing doubles, and one player who has picked up a racket and can clock the ball, but who now needs to learn to keep time with the ball. In other words, the team is experiencing growing pains. We’re young and inexperienced, but with continued practice and match play, I think we’ll be OK in the long run. It’s the short run that’s going to kill us!”
But what doesn’t kill the team will make it stronger. And speaking of strength (in this case, strength of schedule), the women of MMI, despite their vast inexperience, have played top-ranked NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) players and teams. Coach Wright had this to say about the extraordinary level of competition that his team has faced: “When you go up against a player whose last name ends with the letters O-V-A, you might as well say the match is ova. Central Florida Community College’s Katerina Mazackova was launching such an astronomical number of rockets from her side of the court against one of our players that I had to call time so I could check to see if she had stuffed Dr. Robert Goddard and Dr. Werner von Braun into her tennis bag.”
With the 2007 fall season behind them, the Tigers now look forward to the 2008 spring schedule. The first match will be played on Friday, February 15th against Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, and the season will wind up with the ACCC (Alabama Community College Conference) Tournament in Decatur, Alabama, on Thursday, April 17th through Saturday, April 19th.
“I am looking forward to the spring season to see what kind of a team we will end up being,” Wright said. “We are going to win a few games. Because of our youth and inexperience (four of our eight players have never held a racket before), we might have been a farce to be reckoned with in the fall, but come spring, I think (and I hope) we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”
Rowe’s Hat Trick Leads to Consolation-Final Victory at Central Alabama Invitational
Oct. 22, 2007
Alexander City, Ala.- In the first round of the Central Alabama Invitational, which was held on October 20-21, 2007, at Alexander City, Sarah Rowe lost 6-2, 6-1 to the University of Montevallo’s Kristi Kelly, but, like the legendary phoenix, she rose from the ashes to defeat a trio of Central Alabama players on her way to winning the Women’s Flight #1 Singles Consolation Final. Rowe downed Central Alabama’s Eddy 6-3, 6-3 and squeaked by Central Alabama’s Bobo 7-6 (4), 7-5. In the final, Rowe played her best tennis to defeat Central Alabama’s Blackwood 6-2, 6-1.
In other match play, Lindsay Morse lost a 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 nail-biter to Central Alabama’s Blackwood, and Whitney Dancaster, after being bageled 6-0 in the first set by the University of Montevallo’s Abdool, stormed back to take four games in the second set.
2007 Wilson/ITA Southeast Regional Championships
Sept. 22, 2007
Alexander City, Ala.- Sarah Rowe lost a hard-fought and finely contested first-round match to Central Alabama’s Alex Mangum, the tournament's seventh-seeded player, 6-4, 6-4. Each player tried to out-hit the other in a match that was both fast and furious, not to mention ferocious. The tremendous pace on the balls was “ah-inspiring.” Only a handful of points separated the winner from the loser in this titanic struggle.
Tennis, Anyone?
Sept. 12, 2007
Marion, Ala.- Looking to field its first-ever collegiate Women’s Tennis Team, Marion Military Institute tennis coach Charles Wright began cold-calling all incoming female freshmen in the middle of the summer in order to get a response—yes, no, or maybe—to the above question. In addition, at the beginning of the Fall semester, the question circulated again, this time around the campus.
The answer in both cases turned out to be unequivocally and resoundingly positive. Ten young women answered “yes” to the question, and with those affirmative responses, a tennis team was born.
The team consists of a mixture of playing abilities, skills, and experiences, ranging from seasoned players to absolute neophytes. According to Coach Wright, “Four of the ten players have some playing experience. Most of them have been exposed to doubles play, and a few have played sporadically at singles. Of the four players, Sarah Rowe, who will play Number One singles, is the most accomplished player in our lineup. She has played extensively at singles, compiling an unblemished record in her senior year of high school and leading her team to the playoffs. Lindsay Morse, with her strong serve and forehand, will play at the Number Two singles slot, while Whitney Dancaster, with her tenacious all-court game, will play Number Three for us. Joan Aquino should be competitive at Number Four singles.”
Rounding out the squad are the following newcomers to the sport of tennis: Lindsey Barber, Yury Pieczynski, Hazel Riley, and Veronica Wolf.
Four student managers—Ryan Attanasio, John DellAversano, Andrew Maglicmot, and Matthew Manas—have volunteered their time and expertise to help in the inaugural campaign.
“With a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication, and effort, I think the team can be competitive. If we win a few matches and don’t get blown off the court too many times, I’ll be happy. And, if we get a lot of fans out to watch our home matches, I’ll be even happier,” Wright said, and jokingly added, “The formula for a successful year, then, is quite simple: A Few Wins + Tons of Fans = Success. However, this won’t be the same formula I use for success next year.”
