6/10/08

WOMEN'S TENNIS INKS TWO LOCAL STARS
Ashcraft & Carmack Choose Northeast

BOONEVILLE, Miss. --Northeast Mississippi Community College head tennis coach Ricky Smither has announced the signing of Briana Ashcraft (Alcorn Central) and Summer Carmack (Tishomingo County) to his Lady Tigers tennis team. NEMCC women’s tennis is making the move up to Division I competition in the Fall of 2008 making the local pair the first scholarship signees for Northeast’s women’s tennis program since the 2004 season.

“What a way to start off our women’s signing class,” said Smither. “With the ability to award scholarships we can now go out and attract players of this caliber. Briana and Summer are outstanding players and will raise the competitiveness of our team right away. Also, by signing two big-time players we automatically help ourselves in the recruiting of other quality players to our program.”

Briana Ashcraft tasted success during her junior season at Alcorn Central High School with a runner-up finish at the MHSAA State Match in girls’ doubles. She was selected to the 3A All-State team following her junior campaign. This past season the senior was a division runner-up in individual play and was an All-Star nominee.

Summer Carmack advanced to the 4A State semifinals during her freshman, junior, and senior seasons at Tishomingo County High School. She won her first, individual district title as a ninth grader in ’04-’05, and later captured the title again as a senior in ’08. Her 2008 Lady Braves team earned the district title. Following her senior campaign, Carmack was named a Mississippi Tennis All-Star.

Both Ashcraft and Carmack will enroll at Northeast Miss. CC in the Fall of 2008.

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