Escobar and Espin Close Out ITA Cup with Nationals Victory
ROME, Ga. – Meridian Community College men's tennis players Daniel Espin and Jared Escobar wrapped up an impressive run at the 2025 ITA Cup on Saturday night, earning a national tournament victory over Riverside City College to close out their week on a high note.
The four-day national event, held Oct. 16–19 at the Rome Tennis Center, brought together the best collegiate tennis players from NJCAA, NCAA Divisions II and III, and NAIA programs from across the country. Espin and Escobar earned their spot in the field after capturing the ITA Southern Regional Championship in September, becoming one of only eight NJCAA doubles teams to qualify for the national draw.
The MCC duo opened competition on Friday, Oct. 17, in the East Quarterfinal bracket against the tournament's top-seeded team, Tyler Junior College. The Eagles pushed the No. 1 seed to two close sets, narrowly falling after a tiebreak in the second set.
On Saturday morning, the pair faced Eastern Florida State College, the tournament's No. 3 seed. Head Coach Tavis Rieger said the duo showed tremendous composure and execution against another elite opponent.
"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. We were poised and ready for the challenge against the #3 seed, made solid adjustments, and elevated our energy."
The team reset quickly for their final match Saturday evening, closing the tournament in the South Bracket against Riverside City College.
"Daniel and Jared reset after EFSC to play Riverside on Saturday night," Rieger said. "In their third and final match, they were able to break through and win the games that shifted momentum and gave separation. They stayed connected, communicated well, and executed in order to get the win against a quality team. It was a steady match and a great nationals win to finish our week."
Rieger said the entire ITA Cup experience was invaluable for both athletes and the MCC tennis program.
"Playing in the ITA Cup Nationals is an experience that Daniel and Jared will carry with them," he said. "They represented Meridian with professionalism, respect, and competitiveness. When you're competing against the best in college tennis, the difference between victory and loss is so small, and they showed that they belong among the nation's elite. I'm extremely proud of how they competed and how they grew both on and off the court this week."
Both players echoed that sentiment, reflecting on the pride and perspective gained from competing on one of college tennis's biggest stages.
Daniel Espin shared,
"One of our goals at the start of the year was to qualify for the ITA Cup, and I can proudly say that we gave our all in every match we played. Being surrounded by regional champions from Division II, III, and NAIA universities was an incredible experience. It allowed me to gain valuable experience and learn from players with a very high level of play. I want to sincerely thank Coach Rieger for all the support, guidance, and motivation he provided throughout the tournament; his leadership truly made a difference in our performance."
Jared Escobar added,
"It was an excellent tournament; I had very good feelings throughout the competition. The venue was incredible, and I loved that the matches were being streamed so my family could watch me play — that was my favorite part. All the players were very good, and every match was at a high level. Overall, I truly loved this tournament."
Rieger concluded by expressing gratitude to the MCC community for its continued support.
"It was an honor to coach Daniel and Jared this week against some of the best tennis players in college," Rieger said. "Their success is a reflection of our entire team and the support we receive from our MCC family. We're excited to return home, continue training, and prepare for the spring season."
Fans can view the full ITA Cup bracket here and watch replays of matches through PlaySight Live.