Blanchard Headed to Nationals after Tennis Regional

The Choctaws took on the ITA Regional. Now, Blanchard is set to make MC history at the ITA Cup.

Mississippi College competed at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) DII South Regional on Sunday, September 29th at Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. One player, Alex Blanchard, performed well enough to secure a spot in the national ITA Cup. 

Blanchard will be Mississippi College’s first representative at the ITA Cup in the tournament’s history. 

Alex Blanchard hits a slice backhand against Rollins on March 11th, 2024, winning the match 6-3, 6-3. (Photo Credit: Elena Roberts)

Blanchard went into the regional tournament seeded #1 in the region. He would eventually fall to Takeshi Taco 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinals. However, thanks to his impressive tournament performance and outstanding season last year, during which he earned both GSC Player of the Year and ITA Rookie of the Year honors, the ITA selection committee chose him to advance. Mathieu Strauss was given the second alternate after losing in the quarter-finals in a third-set tiebreaker 10-4. 

Other notable appearances on the men’s side include quarter-final doubles performances from Blanchard and Rafael Sabio, who were given the five seed. Sabio had to default out of singles after going into a full-body cramp after winning his first round. Post Hurricane Helene conditions were hot and humid, leading to many defaults occurring from cramps.

On the women’s side, Emma Roberts and Jules De Mata both made it to the round of 16. Roberts was seeded ninth going into the tournament. She was the only girl in the tournament to take a set off the tournament winner, Alina Michalitsch from Barry University. De Mata and Roberts also fell in the quarterfinals of doubles. 

Rocio Martinez won the consolation bracket, securing herself fifth place. 

Blanchard’s next match will be at the ITA Cup on October 10-13 in Rome, Georgia. Previously known as Small College Nationals, the ITA Cup was developed in 1986 for DII and NAIA tennis to have individual regional and nationals in the fall, while team regionals and nationals would occur in the spring.