ELLISVILLE – Twelfth-ranked Jones College is one step closer to its second consecutive Region 23 championship.
Jones defeated the No. 19 Hinds Eagles 5-1 here Friday in the tournament semifinals at the Bobcat Tennis Complex.
The Bobcats (24-2) will face No. 16 Meridian at approximately 10:30 a.m. Saturday for the championship. Meridian defeated No. 17 Gulf Coast 5-1 in the other semifinal match. Hinds meets MGCCC in the consolation match at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
In Friday's opening round matches, Hinds edged No. 21 Copiah-Lincoln, 5-4, and Gulf Coast defeated No. 23 Itawamba, 5-2.
The top three teams in the tournament advance to the NJCAA Division I Tournament May 7-11 in Tucson, Arizona.
No. 12 Jones 5, No. 19 Hinds 1
The Bobcats won two of the doubles' points.
Andrea Vlasceanu (Spain) and
Mia Höddinghaus (Germany) beat Eni Anic and Itzel Lara Gonzalez, 8-2, in No.1 doubles and
Addy Seward (Richland) and
Michaela Anderson (Tupelo) defeated Emi Smith and Morgan Ross, 8-3, in No. 2 doubles.
Allie Johnson (Hernando) and
Sophie Endt (Vancleave) lost 6-8 to Myesha Nealon and Nyesha Nealon in No. 3 doubles.
Sarah Powell (Madison-Ridgeland Academy) whipped Smith in No. 3 singles, 6-0, 6-1, and Johnson downed Myesha Nelson in No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-3. The Bobcats clinched the match when Anderson defeated Nyesha Nelson in No. 6 singles, 6-3, 6-3.
