Southwest Mississippi’s men’s tennis team has received an invitation to compete in the NJCAA Division II Men’s Tennis Championship in Plano, Texas. The tournament is scheduled for May 11-15 at the Collin College Tennis Facility, according to the school’s athletics department.
The Bears concluded their regular season with a 10-8 overall record and a 5-4 mark in conference play. They started the season 2-8 but finished strong with an eight-match winning streak. The team entered the Region 23 championships as the No. 5 seed but was eliminated in the first round by Northwest.
Head coach Dean Clower leads the team, joined by assistant coaches Robin Clower, Alex Velasquez, and Marcos Coves. Key players include sophomores Thomas Simpson, Juan Manuel Riano Cifuentes, and Manan Kumar. Freshman Juan Luca Cividini, from Rosario, Argentina, posted a 15-4 singles record this season and earned All-MACCC First Team honors. Freshmen Cole Beard and Taylor Allen complete the roster.
The team is preparing to compete just a week after the women’s team finished their run at nationals in South Carolina.
