The Sinclair Community College tennis team is on their way to the National Junior College Athletic Associations (NJCAA) national championship in hopes of bringing back some titles.
The national championships are held in Tucson, AZ from May 7-13. The tournament is played under double elimination rules. The original bracket is known as the “main draw,” but if someone loses in their first match they are entered in a “back draw” to where they can keep playing and hopefully win their event.
Points are given out to the individual player/doubles teams. The first round is worth two points, a bye followed by a win is worth three points. Each additional win in the “main draw” is worth one point. In the back draw a win following a bye is worth one point, and each additional win is worth ½ a point according to the NJCAA official website.
Each school can enter a maximum on six players which would equal six singles and three doubles teams. Each player can only play a maximum of three matches per day.
Since Sinclair list some of there players between the fall and spring season, they will be traveling with only four players. Coach Dave Pence says that puts them in a bind for trying to win the overall championship.
“We lost some players under different circumstances, so it’s going to be hard to win the team championship because we can’t make those points up,” Pence said. “But we can still win individual titles, and hopefully we can come home with some.”
Pence is hoping that his doubles teams of Tory Painter/Maggie Thomas and Jessica Purvis/Jennifer Kolb can play well and go deep in the tournament.
He is also looking forward in seeing what his number one player Tory Painter can do in nationals. Painter won the regional tournament in singles and doubles .
“Our doubles teams should do very well as long as we play together, and Tory is a lot stronger, I believe she is peaking at the right time,” Pence said.
Going up against the top teams in the nation, Pence wants his team to be ready and focused. But he understands there will be challenges to overcome, like the heat of Arizona.
“We’re going up against the top teams in the nation, and a lot of them are southern teams,” Pence said. ‘Southern tennis players have an advantage because they can play year round, they are accustomed to the heat. Hopefully we can get down there early, hit a couple balls, and try our best to prepare.”
Overall, Pence and the team are excited for the trip and the opportunity for playing for national championships.
“As long as we work hard, do what we can, and play towards our strengths I believe that we can do well in Arizona.”