Marion, AL—The scrappy MMI Tigers, led by Danny Boussom and Connor Higginbotham in doubles and Boussom, Kai Tougas, and Chris Lee in singles, hung tough in their match against a powerful Meridian Community College Eagle squad at the Paul B. Anderson Tennis Complex on Friday afternoon, falling in a bare-knuckle brawl of a match, 5-4.

MMI's Boussom and Higginbotham in their first collegiate doubles match together at No. 1 doubles provided the crowd with more than a few electric shots to remember.  The Tiger tandem rallied at the end of the match to take the Tigers' lone doubles point on the day, 9-8 (3).

Boussom continued his torrid play in singles, stymying Lachlan Ivulich at every turn in an impressive 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 1 singles.  Kai Tougas (7-5, 6-3) at No. 3 singles and Chris Lee (7-6 [5], 6-3) at No. 4 singles clawed their way to solid wins for the team.

"This team is an interesting mix of talents and personalities," said coach Charles Wright.  "They are an intriguing amalgam of eccentricities and unorthodox ways.  This team is like a giant puzzle to me—one of those puzzles with a million pieces with the same color—but in extremely imperceptible shades of that one color.  When all the pieces finally fit together, it's going to be quite the spectacle, quite the team."

The Tigers will continue their exhibition season on Friday, November 3 when they host the Gadsden State Community College Cardinals in a 1:00 p.m. match.