ELLISVILLE - The fourth seeded Northwest Mississippi Community College women's tennis team (8-7) earn a close 5-2 victory over fifth seeded Hinds Community College (10-6) in the quarterfinals of the Region 23 Tournament in Ellisville at Bobcat Tennis Courts on Thursday, punching a ticket into Friday's semifinal match against the host Bobcats.
"I'm so happy with how the team performed today," Head Coach Ryan Mounce said. "We knew that we were going to have to play well since we were playing a very talented Hinds team."
The Rangers got off to a slow start, with only the #3 doubles court of Ava McCain and Brooke Kicker walking away with a win.
However, Northwest was able to quickly snatch the momentum from Hinds during the singles matches. Not only did NWCC win each match that reached completion, the Rangers did not drop a set in their four singles victories.
Neither McCain or Kicker dropped more than two games throughout their entire singles match. Sophomore Laura Cámara Blanco reigned victorious in a tough match that's margin of victory in both sets was only one break of serve.
Sophomore Claudia Lopez Chaparro clinched the match for the Rangers. In a match that saw a tightly contested second set, Chaparro raised her level in order to seal the win for NWCC.
"I am so proud of Claudia for pushing through that match," Coach Mounce said. "When we needed her to perform she raised her level and got the job done."
Northwest will face the first seed in Jones College (14-0) in the semifinals tomorrow at 10 a.m. in Ellisville at the Bobcat Tennis Courts. No matter the result tomorrow, the Rangers will play Saturday as well.
If the team wins their semifinal matchup, they will play in the Region 23 Championship at 10 a.m. If the team loses their semifinal matchup, they will play in the Region 23 third place match at 2 p.m. Both matches will take place in Ellisville at the Bobcat Tennis Courts.
To stay up to date on the NWCC women's tennis team, follow the Ranger social media accounts or go to nwccrangers.com.
Women's Doubles v. Hinds (April 9)
1. Rodia Noudogbessi/Daniela Lopez (Hinds) def.
Claudia Lopez Chaparro/Laura Cámara Blanco (NWCC) 8-3
2. Jaqueline Vargas/Macie Curtis (Hinds) def. Ángela Ortiz-Sánchez/
Meg Daves (NWCC) 8-6
3. Brooke Kicker/Ava McCain (NWCC) def. Landry Parks/Taryn Green (Hinds) 8-0
Women's Singles v. Hinds (April 9)
2. Claudia Lopez Chaparro (NWCC) def. Rodia Noudogbessi (Hinds) 6-2, 6-4
3. Laura Cámara Blanco (NWCC) def. Jaqueline Vargas (Hinds) 6-4, 6-4
5. Brooke Kicker (NWCC) def. Landry Parks (Hinds) 6-1, 6-1
6. Ava McCain (NWCC) def. Laryn Green (Hinds) 6-1, 6-1
