The Copiah-Lincoln Community College Wolves’ tennis team defeated Oxford Emory to open their 2017 season over the weekend. The decisive 7-2 win has set a great tone for the No. 17 Wolves heading into MACJC play Wednesday as East Central travels to Wesson.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our guys today,” said first year head coach Blake Smith. “Going into the first match there is always some uncertainty, but I thought the guys came out and played with high intensity.”

The Wolves started the day well after winning two doubles courts. Sebastian Osorio and Juan Pablo Pinilla paired up in the No. 1 slot and defeated Guillermo Cabral and Michael Pioso 8-4. Tripp Case and Cory Alderman played in the No. 2 position for the Wolves and picked up an 8-3 win over Akshay Raghuram and Henry Hua. Hayes Thompson and Sebastian Harrell lost at No. 3 8-5 after a very strong showing.

“It was nice going into singles play leading 2-1,” said Smith. “It’s always critical to win at least two doubles courts.”

Co-Lin’s Osorio defeated Cabral in a slugfest match at the No. 1 singles slot that ended 6-3, 2-6, 10-5. At No. 2 Pinilla overcame a tiebreaker to defeat Pioso of Oxford Emory. The final was 4-6, 6-0, 10-2. Thompson, and Case, No. 3 and No. 4 respectively, won their singles matches decisively. Thompson defeated Henry Hua 6-4, 6-2, while Case blew by Gordon Hua 6-2, 6-3. At No. 5 Alderman won in the Wolves third singles match that ended in a tiebreaker. Alderman defeated Raghuram 6-3, 4-6, 10-5. Harrell rounded out the Wolves lineup at No. 6 and lost to Geoffry Young 3-6, 2-6.

“Overall I was very pleased with our performance,” said Smith. “This match was a very good measuring stick for us…now we have to get ready for ECCC.”