Tusculum College opened up its South Atlantic Conference Women's tennis schedule with a 5-4 victory over 49th-ranked Anderson University Saturday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

The Pioneers (4-1 overall, 1-0 SAC) won two out of the three doubles sets, then split six singles matches with the Trojans (4-2 overall, 2-1 SAC) to avenge a 5-1 loss in last year's conference semifinals. Anderson entered the match ranked ninth in the Southeast Region by the ITA.

Megan Buckmaster provided the winning point for the Pioneers with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Lindsay Gregory at flight five. She was joined in the win column by Erin Mills, who downed Hannah Ecleberry 7-5, 6-0 at flight three, and Emily Waters, who was a 6-1, 6-0 winner at flight four over Alexandra Ebner.

Anderson earned its singles points from Avery Owens at flight one by a 1-6, 6-0, 10-3 score, Karen Ching at flight two in a 6-3, 6-1 win, and Lauren Trumbull at flight six with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph.

In doubles play, the Pioneers opened the match with two victories. Buckmaster teamed with Kate Hutchinson to defeat Gregory and Ebner 9-8 at flight two, and Waters and Amanda Sumner bester Trumbull and Marcela Gallegos 8-4 at flight three. Owens and Ching claimed an 8-1 victory at flight one.

The Pioneers will return to the court on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Milligan.