GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Lenoir-Rhyne University picked up a 6-1 victory over Tusculum University in a matchup of nationally-ranked teams Monday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

The 25th-ranked Bears (12-5, 8-2 SAC) took two out of three in doubles to earn the team point, then won the first five singles matches against the 43rd-ranked Pioneers (9-7, 6-3 SAC).

In doubles, the Pioneers went up as Frank Bonacia and Kenta Kondou teamed for a 6-2 victory over Joel Hemmings and Mauricio Hernandez at flight two. However, the Bears won 6-3 at flight one and 6-4 at flight three to claim a 1-0 lead in the match.

Lenoir-Rhyne clinched the match in the first half of singles, as Josh Lazenby beat Kondou 6-2, 6-3 at flight two, Zachary Cox downed Miles Ray 6-3, 6-2 at flight four, and Mauricio Hernandez bested Marco Jalalian 6-2, 6-4 at flight six. Tusculum's lone point came in the final match of the day, as Nathan Matsuguma beat Hemmings 8-5 in a pro set at flight five.

The Pioneers will travel to Carson-Newman to face the 27th-ranked Eagles on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Carson-Newman is in sole possession of second place in the SAC with a 6-1 league record, and is 12-4 overall.