Idia Amen, top, and Salma Dahbi were key contributors at nationals. (Photos by Bill Roa)

The Georgia Perimeter College women’s tennis team returned to the national tournament in May, its first trip since 2005.

Freshman ace Idia Amen advanced to the No. 3 singles semifinals, helping the Jaguars to a 12th-place tie in the 29-team National Junior College Athletic Association Division 1 tournament in Tyler, Texas.

Amen defeated the No. 3 seed in the quarterfinals but fell to the eventual champion  in the final four.

Coached by Mohamed “Reda” Nait Omar and assistant coach Miranda Foley, all seven Jaguars at the Texas tournament won at least one match in either singles or doubles.

“The team had an excellent season, but their draws in the tournament were tough draws,” Nait Omar said. GPC finished the regular season with a 5-4 record.

In No. 1 doubles, Amen and Salma Dahbi advanced to the quarterfinals, and Dahbi reached the No. 1 singles round of 16, where she forced the flight’s eventual champion into a third set before succumbing.

Sadia Mayou advanced to the “round of 16” twice—in No. 2 singles and No. 2 doubles.

Boyd lost her first match in No. 5 singles and then compiled points for the Jaguars by advancing to the final match of the consolation bracket before she was eliminated.