East Central Community College tennis teams captured their first victories of the young season by defeating Holmes Community College in matches held Thursday, Feb. 18 on the Decatur campus.

The Warriors blitzed the Bulldogs 9-0 and the Lady Warriors cruised, 7-2.

In men’s singles, Colton Amis defeated Tye Steele (6-2, 7-5); Will Marston clipped Joseph Dees (6-3,7-5); Zac White beat Chris Houghton (6-1, 6-3); Jason Hancock  shut out Jerry Arnold (6-0, 6-0), Dee Walker beat Josh Pinkard (7-5, 6-0) and Richie Ferguson cruised past Tanner McGraw (6-1, 6-0).

In men’s doubles, Amis and Walker defeated Steele and Dees 9-8 (7-5), Marston and White cruised past Houghton and McGraw (8-1), and Hancock and Matt Griffin clipped Pinkard and Arnold (8-4).

Amis, Hancock, Walker and Ferguson are graduates of Newton County High School. Marston, White and Griffin are products of Union High School.

 In women’s singles, Abby McMillan cruised past Kayla Perry, 6-0, 6-1. Hannah Peoples, Sami Elkins and Anna Alexander won their respective matches due to forfeits. Elise Gibbs fell to Jennifer Holland in their match 2-6, 6-2, 1-0 (11-9) and Ashley Walker was defeated by Taylor Morgan (6-0, 6-3).

In women’s doubles, Gibbs and McMillan beat Perry and Morgan (8-1). Peoples and Rachel Ramirez, and Elkins and Walker won their respective doubles matches due to forfeits.

Gibbs is a product of Newton County High School; McMillan and Peoples, Newton County Academy; Walker, Union; and Ramirez and Elkins, Forest. Alexander is a home-schooled student from Little Rock. 

East Central began the 2010 season by falling to Hinds Community College on February 16 in Raymond, as both teams dropped 8-1 decisions.

Hancock and Griffin were the only Warriors to claim victories, as they edged Rowe Rhette and Chris Tapia, 8-8 (7-2) in men’s doubles.

In other results, Amis and Walker fell to Nikta Lison and Misha Pecherkin (8-1) and Marston and White were defeated by Duffy Loel and Donnail Myles, also by an 8-1 score.

In men’s singles, Amis lost to Lison (6-0, 6-0), Marston fell to Pecherkin (6-0, 6-0), White was defeated by Loel (6-0, 6-1), Hancock fell to Myles (6-2, 6-1), Walker was clipped by Tapia (6-1, 6-3) and Griffin fell to Rhette (7-5, 6-0).

McMillan was the lone Lady Warrior victor, as she won her singles match with Halle Melton (6-4, 7-5).

 In other results, Gibbs fell to Oksana Fomerg (6-3, 6-0), Ramirez was clipped by Gi Gi Williams (6-0, 6-2), Peoples lost to Jennifer Hill (6-3, 6-2), Elkins fell to Grace Gaaz (6-1, 6-0) and Walker was defeated by Carly Miller (7-5, 6-0).

In the doubles competition, Gibbs and McMillan lost to Fomerg and Melton (8-1), Ramirez and Peoples fell to Gaaz and Hill (8-3) and Elkins and Walker were clipped by Katherine Lamb and Joy Betha (8-4).

ECCC tennis squads are competing today (Monday) at Pearl River Community College and travel to Gulf Coast Tuesday.

Dianne O’Neill and Kyle Watson serve as ECCC tennis coaches.