Marion, AL—The Marion Military Institute Lady Tigers used home-court advantage to their advantage on a very windy Thursday afternoon to narrowly escape with a 5-4 win over the visiting Lady Trojans from Central Alabama Community College.

The Lady Tigers nabbed the first and second doubles points.  Julia Kelly and Madelyn Dibble struck first with their 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles, and Anna Waller and Eve Crossett delivered an 8-4 win at No. 2 doubles.

However, it was the singles flights that highlighted play for the afternoon.  Anna Waller started singles action off strong for the Lady Tigers; she won her match in a double-bagel effort, 6-0, 6-0, The matches at singles flights 1 and 3 were extremely well-played matches on both sides of the court.  Madelyn Dibble won her match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, on court 3.  But it was on court 1 where the mesmerizing play of MMI's Julia Kelly and CACC's Kelly Martin held the small crowd in thrall.  Martin held the upper hand in both sets, but Kelly was able to find the answer in both sets to squeeze out the 7-5, 6-4 win.

MMI 5, CACC 4

Doubles Competition

1.  Kelly/Dibble (MMI) def. Martin/Vandiver (CACC) 8-2

2.  Waller/Crossett (MMI) def. Strickland/Hayes (CACC) 8-4

3.  Woods/Albright (CACC) def. Taylor/Jeong (MMI) 8-0

Singles Competition

1.  Julia Kelly (MMI) def. Kelly Martin (CACC) 7-5, 6-4

2.  Anna Waller (MMI) def. Alyssa Vandiver (CACC) 6-0, 6-0

3.  Madelyn Dibble (MMI) def. Anna Woods (CACC) 6-4, 6-3

4.  Ellyse Strickland (CACC) def. Eve Crossett (MMI) 6-3, 6-2

5.  Ellie Hayes (CACC) def. Catherine Taylor (MMI) 6-0, 6-1

6.  Kaelyn Albright (CACC) def. Sarah Jeong (MMI) 6-0, 6-1

Next Up:  The Lady Tigers go on the road to play an exhibition match at the University of Mobile on Friday, April 2.  The match is scheduled to start at 11:00 a.m.