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2006-07
Season Outlook
September 5, 2006
The
men’s team returns all six starters and eight lettermen for the
2006-07 season, including the
lone senior on the squad Russell Turley. Turley, the Birmingham, Ala.
native, posted an 8-10 record last season and has received All-SCAC Honorable
Mention honors all three seasons thus far,
along
with
being named to the 2006 All-SCAC Tournament Team.
The
season will be highlighted by a spring break trip to Orlando, Fla.,
three away trips
to Texas, a weekend in Memphis, Tenn., the Millsaps Fall Invitational
and an ITA regional in Texas.
The Majors finished
a disappointing ninth place last season but posted a a 4-3 record
in matches with teams sixth thru eighth in the conference. The
SCAC top four went to the
NCAA
tournament.
The men swept NAIA rival Belhaven, played a handful of nationally
ranked teams and look to improve in 2006-07 with the addition of top
recruit
Alex
Cummings of Tallahassee, Fla. Cummings
will likely play at the No. 1 position, with Turley to follow at the
No. 2 slot and Tim Shoptaugh at No. 3. Shoptaugh, the Baton Rouge native,
posted a 9-7 record last season.
Wes Hill (5-11), the junior from Columbus, Chris Rolen (9-6),
a sophomore from Baton Rouge and 2006 All-SCAC Tournament Team selection
Trevor Harris (6-10) will round out the No. 4 through No. 6 slots.
Michael Puckett,
a senior from Jackson has one more year of eligibility and will
study abroad the later part of 2006. Puckett played No. 4 singles
and will look to regain his game in the spring along with Robert
Parker and Jonathan Giurintano. Parker is already the most improved
player this fall and could figure in some playing time. Hill and
Giurintano were each National ITA Scholar-Athlete Award recipients
for 2006.
Goals for the upcoming
campaign include a Top 5 finish in the SCAC, a 2007 ITA Academic
Team award, individual ITA
Scholar-Athletes,
continued community service with Mississippi School for Deaf, improved
play with pride and vie for a spot in the NCAA tournament.
Hope to see you at the courts!
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