Eagles Deliver at ITA Southern Regional Championships

PERKINSTON, Miss. – The Meridian Community College men's and women's tennis teams showcased grit and determination over four days of competition at the 2025 ITA JUCO Southern Regional Championships, held September 24–27 at Mississippi Gulf Coast. The Eagles turned in standout performances in both singles and doubles play, highlighted by sophomore duo Daniel Espin and Jared Escobar capturing the Men's Blue 1 Doubles title to qualify for the ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia.

In Men's Singles Draw A, Espin advanced to the consolation finals after wins over Manan Kumar (Southwest), Jaume Socias Capella (Hinds), and teammate Ned Simpson before falling in the championship match. Simpson also had a solid showing, earning victories over Juan Manuel Riano Cifuentes (Southwest) and Luca Morris (Northwest) before bowing out in the semis. Escobar delivered one of the tournament's deepest runs, knocking off #3 seed Thomas Garrett (Jones) and advancing all the way to the Blue 2 finals before falling to #4 seed Pablo De Haro Esteban (Hinds).

In Men's Singles Draw B, Jack Tutor, Laike Satterfield, Jackson Grady, and Gavin Robles each gained valuable experience, with Robles advancing to the consolation quarterfinals. Hayden Williams added a first-round victory in Draw C, defeating Layne Wolf (Northwest) before dropping his second match.

On the women's side, Reine Akombo captured the consolation crown in Women's Singles Draw A. After an early setback, she rebounded with wins over Agostina Pizarro (Itawamba), Georgina Labusch (Co-Lin), and Isabella Estrada Avila (East Central) to secure the MGC–MGCCC Gold 2 Consolation title.
"It is okay to try, okay to fail, but never okay to give up. Keep giving your best," Akombo said.

Teammate Daisi Kukuljan also advanced to the consolation quarterfinals. In Draw B, Elizabeth Shirley picked up an opening-round win, while Aleah McMullan pushed through the backdraw to reach the semifinals. In Draw C, Piper Collins and Michaela Mayerhoff both earned byes but were eliminated in their follow-up matches.

Doubles play featured several strong MCC efforts. Espin and Escobar stole the spotlight in Men's Doubles Draw A, earning wins over teams from East Central and Jones before clinching the Blue 1 championship against Santiago Martin Enriquez Bogado and Ryland Buford of Gulf Coast — a result that secured their spot at the ITA Cup in Rome, Georgia.
"The journey may be long, but every step forward brings your goal within reach," Espin said.

Simpson and Robles also battled through the consolation bracket. In Men's Doubles Draw B, the tandems of Satterfield/Williams and Tutor/Grady gained early round experience.

In Women's Doubles Draw A, Akombo and McMullan won their opener before falling in the quarterfinals, while Shirley and Kukuljan advanced to the consolation semifinals. Collins and Mayerhoff paired up in Women's Doubles Draw B, reaching the consolation semifinals before bowing out.

MCC Head Coach Tavis Rieger praised his players' efforts throughout the week.
"I am proud of our MCC Eagles Tennis program and how we represented at the ITA Southern Regionals. Our players gave a great effort in every match, committing to improvement whether they were in a main draw or consolation match. Multiple players rebounded from a tough match result, and they were able to advance through the consolation bracket. Players made adjustments and set new goals for their next matches, focusing on improving. Moving forward, this mindset will serve our team in preparation for our spring season, and individuals for successful outcomes no matter their goals. I am also grateful for the way our players support their teammates both on and off the court, which is important for our team development, and even more so our team culture."

Rieger also spotlighted his doubles champions.
"Congratulations to our Men's Doubles Champions – Daniel Espin and Jared Escobar – who will represent MCC and the region at the ITA Cup Nationals in Rome, GA. They battled through a tough week of very competitive matches to earn their victory. No matter the situation, they bonded to execute and find the last point, including their three-set championship match. Daniel and Jared played high-level tennis in singles and doubles. Daniel faced a tough setback in his first singles match before advancing to the consolation finals. Jared also played for the singles championship on the final competition day. I am grateful for the opportunity to coach these two men who are great tennis players and high-character individuals. We are excited to celebrate their accomplishments, and we are even more excited to continue our work and our elevation."

The Eagles will continue their Fall Individual schedule through October before turning their attention to the spring season.