Men's Tennis Team Topple #5 Team in the Nation

The Mississippi College men’s tennis team defeated West Florida at home this past Wednesday.

The Mississippi College (MC) men’s tennis team huddles for their ritual chant before their matches against West Florida last Wednesday, Feb. 28. The Choctaws went into the match ranked 21st in the country while West Florida ranked 5th. The men’s team had never defeated West Florida, who made their first trip to Clinton last week. However, this did not seem to bother freshman Alex Benichou. “We may have never beaten them, but they have never beaten this specific team.”

Alvaro Saint Martin and Aiden Usyr get ready to start. Attitudes were high during warm up despite the match starting late due to a rain delay in the middle of the women’s match earlier that day. The temperatures dropped from the morning, making it cool outside. It grew even colder as the sun went down. 

Alex Benichou receives coaching from Christian Branning during doubles. The Choctaws started off strong, sweeping doubles 3-0. Saint Martin and Joe Jarvis finished first with a score of 6-3. Walker Ellis and Benichou followed next at 6-3 as well. Rafeal Sabio and Felipe Iser finished last at line one with a score of 6-4. 

Jarvis prepares to serve. After doubles, all six singles matches went on court. The matches were tight, with MC losing four of the first sets. However, Jarvis came out of his first set 6-3. He was up 1-0 when his opponent had to retire from an ankle injury he sustained at 5-3. With Jarvis’ victory, the team went up 2-0. 

Sabio getting ready to return. Saint Martin secured his first set at line three with a score of 6-4, while Benichou fell in the first set, 6-7 in a tiebreak. Sabio, Sergio Ramirez, and Antoine Nivault also lost their first sets.

Fans braved the cold to watch the close match. Sabio lost later in the day, while Saint Martin finished his match on top, making the Choctaws overall score 3-1. Benichou, Ramirez, and Nivault all won their second sets. In their third sets, Benichou’s score was 6-2, Ramirez’s was 6-4, and Nivault’s score was 7-6. 

After a competitive day, the Choctaws prevailed over the indomitable West Florida. Benichou and Ramirez clinched the match for the Choctaws, with Benichou’s decisive 6-0 third set and Ramirez’s 6-4. The Choctaws ended with an overall score of 5-2.