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September 12, 2007
JACKSON -- With
almost every opponent on the 2008 schedule having the opportunity
to be ranked at some point in the season including Millsaps,
the Major netters have their best team in years and the outlook
is very encouraging.
The Majors return all but one starter from a 11-9 spring season,
with four-year starter and team captain Russell Turley graduating
at season's end.
An ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District
selection in 2007, Turley posted a 14-4 record in singles and
a 10-7 record in doubles to help lead a strong group of Majors
over the spring. Turley put together a 36-24 career
record at singles and a
33-26 career record at doubles while landing on the All-SCAC
team twice.
The men's top recruit Campbell Hughes from Houston, Texas, figures
to play at the top two spots and will most likely partner with
the highly talented sophomore Alex Cummings to form one of the
toughest doubles teams in the country. Cummings looks to use
his experience from last year to compete at the top spot in 2007-08.
Senior Murphey Parker is also experienced at the top positions
and will vie for a number one spot after posting a 11-7 record
in singles at No. 3 and a 9-10 record at No's 1/2 doubles.
Fellow senior starters Michael Puckett (No. 6) and co-captain
Wes Hill (No. 5) look forward to the challenges of the exciting
schedule
and will try and carry the Majors to their first national rankings
in years.
Co-captain Tim Shoptaugh from Baton Rouge, La., was one of the
strongest players in the country at No. 4 singles and will compete
for a higher position this season. Shoptaugh posted a 12-5 overall
record in singles, posting a 1-0 record at No. 2.
Returning to fill out the rest of the lineup is two-year starter
Trevor Harris (No. 6), former No. 5 player Chris Rolen, Robert
Parker and Chris Kelley. Rolen posted a 1-1 record before being
sidelined with shoulder surgery.
The 2007-08 schedule is highlighted by matches with No. 2 Emory,
No. 9 Trinity University, No. 11 Johns Hopkins and several other
regionally/nationally ranked teams from all over the country.
Travel will include a Spring Break Trip in Florida along with
stops in San Antonio and Atlanta twice.
The Majors open the fall at the ITA Regional in Sewanee,
Tenn., on Friday, Sept. 28, lobbying for a spring preseason ranking.
The spring season kicks off Feb. 8 at Piedmont.
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