Our collegiate tennis athletes are getting prepared for the 2022/23 season and a number of the players have seen pre-season action with their respective colleges. There are approximately nine athletes who are on the tennis college circuit. The BLTA congratulates each of them on their hard work thus far and wishes them the very best in their upcoming season:
Jacobi Bain and Xavier of University Louisiana (XULA) Gold Rush
Jacobi Bain was awarded the NAIA South Region Rookie award for his performance for the 2021/22 season. Jacobi went 20-7 in singles and 26-9 in doubles last year. Kicking off his 2022/23 season at the HBCU National Tournament in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in a season opener. In singles, Jacobi who was seeded 3rd played well but lost in his first singles match against Jonasz Dziopak 3-6, 0-6. Jacobi obtained success in doubles with partner Woody. Jacobi and Woody captured the doubles title 6-3 over Du Preez and Bajracharya of Alabama State at the HBCU National Championships. The duo, seeded #1 advanced to the semifinals after an impressive first-round win over Amadike and Lan 6-1. They won in the quarterfinals 6-4 over Alvaraz and Caraballo of Tennessee State. Congratulations on the Regional rookie award for the south region and your doubles title at the recent HBCU Tournament Jacobi!
Donte Armbrister – Hampton University Pirates
Donte Armbrister and partner Emiliano Jorquera won the Elon Fall Invitational Powell Doubles Tournament. Donte and Emiliano won over Steveker and McNamara of Queens 6-4. In the next round, they won 7-5 over Moskovitz and Johns of the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNC G), in the Finals they were victorious over Bharathy and Sneed from Central 7-5. In singles Donte made it to the quarters with a win over Oliver Saarinen of Central and fought hard against Blanco 4-6 6-7, he lost in the second round 2-6 6-7 to Blanco NC A&T.
At the Christopher Newport University (CNU) Fall Invitational held the prior week Donte Armbrister was perfect going 4-0 in singles and doubles against the competition. Against the host university CNU Donte defeated Ahun Vodela 6-4,6-3 and in #1 Doubles Donte with partner Ange-Kevin defeated Strause and Truong 8-5. Against North Carolina Weslayan Donte won 6-2,6-4 in singles and 8-4 in #2 doubles with partner Emiliano Jorquera. Congratulations Donte on the Phoenix Doubles finals title win at the Elon Invitational!
Elana Mackey and Mars Hill Lions
Elana Mackey and Mars Hill Lions competed in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Southeast Regional Championships. In singles, Elana won over Ami Miya of Catawba 7-5, 1-6,6-1. She then defeated the #16 seed Cardenas from Newberry 6-0,6-7, 7-5. Elana then went on to win over Labat from Columbus State 6-2,6-3. In the round of 16 Elana faced the 6th seed Dana Heimen losing in a hard-fought match 4-6,4-6. In doubles, Elana partnered with Kadiri losing 4-8 to Pugina and Whelan of Lenoir-Ryne University. Wonderful advancement in the ITA regional championships Elana.
Sydney Clarke – University of Alabama at Birmingham(UAB) Blazers
Sydney Clarke and the UAB Blazers competed in the Samford round-robin. Sydney defeated Karen Yibirin of Middle Tennesee State University 6-0, 6-1 and Sean Mullen of Tulane 6-4,6-0.In doubles, Sydney Clarke and Annalisa Smith won over Samford’s Nanere and Mares 7-5 and comeback with partner Ratkic from 0-5 down to win against Tulane’s Mullen and Walther 7-5. Sydney and UAB opened up their fall season in Austin Peay Tournament where Sydney won over Arbelaz Maria 6-0,6-2 and had some well-fought matches where she lost against Emma Honore of Murray State (MuR) 1-6,4-6, Coco Bosman of UT Martin College (UTC) 3-6, 2-6 and 8-1 0-6, 7-10 Melody Hefti of Austin Peay State University (APSU). In doubles
Sydney and partner Mackenzie White won over Torrealba and Lascheck of APSU 6-4, Sydney also teamed up with Annalisa Smith defeating Bosma nand Billman of UTC 6-2. Sydney would rack up another doubles win with Alexandra da Silva over CU’s Sungatullina and Mendez 6-1.
Abigail Simms and Indiana Tech Warriors
Abigail Simms and the Indiana Warriors coming off a 2022 season capturing back-to-back WHAC Conference Championships started the season opener at Goshen College. Playing in #2 Singles Abigail won over Aliaga 6-0,6-0 and in the #1 doubles with Carvahlo defeated Aliaga 6-4. The team won 6-0 against Goshen. In the Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) Fall classic Abigail and partner Echavaria lost to the host IWU’s Antezana and Munoz in doubles 2-6.
Kofi Bowe and Johnson C Smith University (JCSU) Golden Bulls
Kofi Bowe is expected to see action when Johnson C Smith University (JCSU) see action against Mars Hill University today.
Shaytonya Missick – Johnson C Smith University (JCSU) Golden Bulls
Shaytonya Missick and JSCU Golden Bulls will face Elana and the Lions on Sept 28th. We wish them both strong performances.
Anthony Burrows Jr. – University of Missouri- St. Louis (UMSL) Tritons
Anthony Burrows Jr. is competing in his debut tennis college season for the UMSL Tritons. The team will face Missouri Baptist Oct 7th.
Peyton Anderson – Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) Mustangs
Peyton Anderson is also debuting in her collegiate career for the SMSU Mustangs. Peyton in $5 singles played against Nemmers of MSU Moorhead 6-4, 7-5. SMSU also faced Nebraska Kearney in fall season play Peyton teamed up with Roz Oye in doubles falling 2-6, in singles, she also lost 0-6, 3-6 to Plachy Clare. SMSU also faced Minnesota State University where Peyton and Roz won 6-0 in #3 doubles but lost in singles 0-6,6-2,1-6 in a hard-fought match.
We are excited for our returning athletes and our new athletes who will be adjusting to the college scene. We pray that you all are successful on the courts and in the classroom. You can follow the athletes online as they continue in their fall preseason. We congratulate once again Joshua Turnquest, Sierra Donaldson, Hannah-Joy Simms, and Afrika Smith who graduated last season and wish them well as they undertake their varied pursuits.
As we have a growing group of tennis players competing internationally we encourage junior and adult players to inform the PR department directly via email of your achievements and noteworthy endeavours so that we can recognize your accomplishments!
Original Post Date: 9/28/2022
