Men’s Tennis Sending 6 To Nationals

SPARTANBURG, SC --  The Spartanburg Methodist College men's tennis team will be sending its largest contingent ever to the NJCAA Division I nationals May 10-14 in Plano, TX.

Representing the men's tennis team at nationals will be freshmen Matthew Banks (Chapman, SC / Inman HS), Aubree Johnson (Spartanburg / Dorman HS), Troy Lanford (Woodruff, SC / Woodruff HS), and Austin McAlister (Hodges, SC / Greenwood HS) ; and sophomores Trent Jackson (Dallas, GA / East Paulding HS) and Matt Kennamer (North Augusta, SC / North Augusta HS).

(in photo at right, l-r) Troy Lanford, Trent Jackson, Matt Kennamer, coach Rodney McAlister, Austin McAlister Aubrey Johnson, and Matthew Banks. )

 The team is ranked No. 22 among NJCAA schools in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll.

"I think if we get the right draws, we can finish 20th – maybe a little bit higher even. It just depends," says coach Rodney McAlister.

At No. 99, Lanford is the only member of the team to be ranked individually. He and McAlister are ranked No. 37 nationally in doubles.

SMC beat USC-Lancaster 6-3 in the Region X title match to qualify for nationals.

Despite finishing 2-7 for the spring season,  McAlister says the team's highly competitive schedule has helped strengthen them throughout the season.

"This year we played a tougher schedule so we could get them ready for a potential trip to nationals. The couple days before we head out there, we'll run some tough practices. They're real united and eager to go. Plus, this is great for recruiting," he says.

This is the men's team's third consecutive appearance at nationals. Its first was in 2008 with four players.

Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia. The College is in its 99th year of providing quality education to students in a Christian environment.  More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.

For more information contact coach Rodney McAlister at (864) 344-1628 or SMC public information director Brian Fulkerson at (864) 587-4254.

Additional tournament information can be found at: http://www.collin.edu/athletics/Nat_tourn.htm