Meridian, MS—The MMI Tigers started Saturday off with a 6-3 win over Meridian Community College in their season opener but fell, 8-1, to Jones College in the second match at the Northeast Park Tennis Center.

Against Meridian, the Tigers notched two doubles wins at No. 1 and No. 3 doubles and lost a close match at No. 2 doubles, 8-6.  Joseph Tanjuatco and Eddie Hunter produced MMI's first point with a strong 8-4 win over Meridian's Matthew Tennant and Dieter Gonzalez, and Dom Ingram and Drake DelValle picked up MMI's second doubles point by defeating Meridian's Grant Frank and Cameron Garrett, 8-1.

In singles action, Hunter downed Gonzalez, 6-2, 6-2, at No. 2 singles, PJ Smith powered his way to a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 4 singles, Carson Johnson triumphed at No. 5 singles, 6-3, 6-4, and DelValle played strong down the stretch and won, 7-5, 6-0.  Tanjuatco fell just short in his comeback attempt at No. 1 singles, losing 10-7 in the third-set super tiebreaker.

In the Jones College match, the Tigers lost two close doubles matches, 9-8 (5) and 8-6, and two grueling singles matches in third-set super tiebreakers.  MMI's Joseph Tanjuacto prevailed in his match at No. 2 singles against Jones College's Ignacio Vanecek, 6-1, 4-6, 10-5, for MMI's lone point of the match.

MMI 6, Meridian CC 3

Doubles Competition

1.  Tanjuatco/Hunter (MMI) def. Tennant/Gonzalez (MCC) 8-4

2.  Hartman/Jefcoat (MCC) def. Smith/Emmanuel Warner (MMI) 8-6

3.  Ingram/DelValle (MMI) def. Frank/Garrett (MCC) 8-1

Singles Competition

1.  Matthew Tennant (MCC) def. Joseph Tanjuatco (MMI) 7-5, 5-7, 10-7

2.  Eddie Hunter (MMI) def. Dieter Gonzalez (MCC) 6-2, 6-2

3.  Colin Hartman (MCC) def. Dom Ingram (MMI) 6-3, 6-1

4.  PJ Smith (MMI) def. Taylor Jefcoat (MCC) 6-1, 6-3

5.  Carson Johnson (MMI) def. Grant Frank (MCC) 6-3, 6-4

6.  Drake DelValle (MMI) def. Cainan Black (MCC) 7-5, 6-0

Jones College 8, MMI 1

Doubles Competition

1.  Vanecek/Panzica (JC) def. Tanjuatco/Hunter (MMI) 9-8 (5)

2.  Meda/Hilton (JC) def. Smith/Emmanuel Warner (MMI) 8-1

3.  John Jabour/Braxton Wallis (JC) def. Ingram/DelValle (MMI) 8-6

Singles Competition

1.  Gaspar Meda (JC) def. Eddie Hunter (MMI) 6-2, 4-6, 10-5

2.  Joseph Tanjuatco (MMI) def. Ignacio Vanecek (JC) 6-1, 4-6, 10-5

3.  Trey Hilton (JC) def. PJ Smith (MMI) 6-1, 5-7, 10-6

4.  Daniel Panzica (JC) def. Dom Ingram (MMI) 6-0, 6-4

5.  Greyson Parman (JC) def. Drake DelValle (MMI) 6-4, 6-1

6.  Ryan Myers (JC) def. Carson Johnson (MMI) 6-1, 6-3

Next Up:  The Tigers are trying to reschedule their away match with East Central Community College for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30.