Hail to MMI’s Hale and Wright, Men’s Doubles Champions at the USTA/ITA Southern JUCO Regional Championships!

Meridian, MS—Morgan Hale and Andrew Wright, Marion Military Institute's powerhouse doubles pair, lived up to their No. 1 seeding on Saturday afternoon and dominated play on their way to being crowned the men's doubles champions at the USTA/ITA Southern JUCO Regional Championships, which were held at the Northeast Tennis Center. Hale and Wright fell behind 0-2 early but put up a furious fight from that point on to prevail, 8-4, over the tournament's No. 2-seeded team of Skyler Flowers and Brandon Lane, an accomplished doubles duo from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

On their way to the championship, Hale and Wright subdued teams from Mississippi Gulf Coast (8-1), Copiah Lincoln (8-1), and Itawamba (8-2.

"Morgan and Andrew played extremely well throughout the three-day event," said Charles Wright, Marion Military Institute's men's and women's tennis coach.  "They have all the tools necessary for a good doubles team:  quick hands, solid volleys, great returns, nice lobs, excellent serves, consistent ground strokes, good communication skills, and great chemistry.  That combination of skills is hard to beat.  They deserved to win."

Due to their collegiate obligations, Hale and Wright are unable to participate in the 2014 USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in Sumter, SC.