04/02 - Juco notebook: MCC men’s tennis coach says PVCC hurting conference

Things are moving along just fine for the two-time defending Arizona Community College Athletic Conference champion Mesa Community College men’s tennis team, but coach Becky Opoien wishes that a portion of the conference would get its act together.

A few days after MCC defeated Pima College in a revenge match that pulled the Thunderbirds into a tie for first place (with Pima) with one match left to play, Opoien wanted to make it clear that Paradise Valley Community College — one of six teams competing in the men’s division — has likely robbed an ACCAC school of a spot in the NJCAA tennis tournament because it currently has only one member on its tennis team.

According to Opoien, since PVCC does not field a full squad, NJCAA rules would likely allow only two ACCAC teams to play in the national tournament instead of three. Opoien blames PVCC athletic director Greg Silcox.

"Greg Silcox is aware of that and hasn’t changed things," Opoien said. "He’s not doing anything. It’s not good for our conference. It hurts Arizona. Without six full teams we can only take two (to nationals)."

Calls to Silcox and an assistant athletic director at PVCC were not returned.

Opoien has recently shifted the MCC lineup and the results have worked. Kenneth Alcalde has moved in as the No. 1 player ahead of No. 2 Josiah Barnett and No. 3 Chad Turner.

"Alcalde has toned it down and is more strategic on the court," Opoien said. "He’s winning big matches."

All ACCAC teams will enter the Region I playoffs on April 15-16 at the Paseo Tennis Center with two going to nationals.

On the women’s side, MCC and Scottsdale Community College are tied for first after the two teams split matches this season. MCC is the defending champion and has reached the nationals 17 consecutive seasons. MCC’s top two players, Sarah Reimer (a Corona del Sol High School graduate) and Lindsay Hardy (Mountain View) are unbeaten on the season.

BASEBALL

Glendale (9-9) has built a three-game lead over MCC (6-12) and SCC (6-12) with only two of the four Division II teams allowed into the postseason tournament. Phoenix College is 5-13.

SCC’s Paul Franko leads the ACCAC with a .487 batting average and is tied with MCC’s Bobby McMurray for the lead in RBIs with 35.

MCC’s John McCarthy is third in hitting (.417) and leads the conference in runs (37) and hits (55).

On the mound, Chandler-Gilbert’s Phil Anderson has a 6-0 record and MCC’s Kyler Newbie is 6-2. SCC’s Seth Lackow has a 5-0 mark with an ERA of 2.05.

Chandler-Gilbert, playing in Division I, has a 12-6 conference mark and trails Central Arizona (16-2) and Pima (13-5) in the standings.

SOFTBALL

MCC has a 14-10 record, behind Phoenix College (20-4) while Chandler-Gilbert (11-13) is also in the hunt for one of four Division II playoff spots.

Chandler-Gilbert’s Kelsi Jensen leads the Coyotes in hitting (.417) and leads the conference with 17 doubles.

Bridget McNulty (Desert Vista) of Central Arizona is tied with Jensen for the lead in triples with six.