Escobar and Espin Push Top Seed in ITA Cup Debut

ROME, Ga. – Meridian Community College men's tennis standouts Daniel Espin and Jared Escobar opened play Friday, Oct. 17, at the 2025 ITA Cup in Rome, Ga., taking on top-seeded Tyler Junior College in the East Quarterfinal bracket. The national tournament, held Oct. 16–19 at the Rome Tennis Center, features the best competitors from across the NJCAA ranks.

The MCC duo battled the No. 1 seed through two intense sets in their tournament debut. The opening set was separated by just one service break, while Espin and Escobar jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the second before forcing a tiebreaker.

Head Coach Tavis Rieger praised his players for their composure and level of play.
"Daniel and Jared played a smart, disciplined match, which was decided by a few points," Rieger said. "They proved that they are an elite team and can compete at high levels. Our team played really well tactically and technically to create chances to win the match. We'll build upon today's experience to continue elevating our tennis. It's a great opportunity to play against the best teams in JUCO and to compete at an event with so much talent across the courts."

After dropping the close match to Tyler JC, Espin and Escobar advance to the West Semifinal bracket, where they will face Eastern Florida State College tonight (Saturday, Oct. 18) at 5:30 p.m.

Fans can follow the tournament bracket here and watch live coverage via PlaySight Live.