WESSON – The 2013 edition of the Copiah-Lincoln Community College Lady Wolves tennis team will be one that goes down in the record books for winning big on and off the court.

On the court they finished the season with a 7-2 record and captured third place in the MACJC State Tournament and qualified for the NJCAA Region XXIII tournament for the second straight year.

Individually, the freshman doubles team of Meredith Allen and Courtney Watts won the State Championship at No. 3 Doubles defeating the team of Amber Frederick and Frankie Turner of Itawamba 6-3, 7-5 in the championship match. Sophomore Haley Wicker was the runner-up in No. 3 Singles falling to Itawamba’s Anna Blair Hunt 6-4, 6-2 in the finals. Watts also played well as she was the runner-up at No. 4 Singles falling to Itawamba’s Bianca Stephens in a three set marathon 3-6, 6-0, 4-6.

The Lady Wolves continued their tradition of excellence in the classroom as they finished the year as the NJCAA’s No.2 Academic Team of the Year and the MACJC’s No. 2 Academic Team of the Year. Sophomore Haley Wicker received the NJCAA’s Superior Academic Achievement and MACJC Distinguished Academic All-State Awards, while teammate Abby Morris received the NJCAA’s Exemplary Academic Achievement and MACJC’s Academic All-State Awards.

Coach Holli Pepper returns four sophomores in 2013-2014. Sophomore players are Courtney Watts, Savannah Brister and Melody Smith, all of Brookhaven, and Erika Dear of Florence. Freshman signees include Carlianne Alderman and Caroleah Brister, both of Brookhaven, and Allie Dear of Florence and Carly Riley of New Hebron.

“Last year was a special team with a great chemistry and work ethic,” said Pepper. “I expect this group to come in ready to work hard in the classroom and on the court and to continue the Lady Wolves tradition.”

Pepper, a former state champion as a player at Co-Lin, begins her ninth year as the women’s tennis coach at Co-Lin.