Pioneers erase deficit, beat Lee 4-3

Pioneers erase deficit, beat Lee 4-3

CLEVELAND, Tenn. --- Tusculum University won four straight singles matches to erase a 2-0 deficit as the 17th-ranked Pioneers beat Lee University 4-3 in non-conference women's tennis action Wednesday at the DeVos Tennis Center.

The Pioneers (3-1) lost the doubles point and the first completed singles match, but a win from a set down by Emilie Hansen sparked Tusculum to the victory over the Flames (3-1).

Tusculum was swept in doubles, with the closest contest coming at flight two as Lee's Sierra Donaldson and Lauren Trammell needed an 8-6 tiebreaker for a 7-6 victory over Hansen and Amber Lackey.

The Pioneers fell behind 2-0 following a straight-set win for the Flames at flight three, but Julia Lopez started the comeback with a 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 win over Lisa Kirr at flight two. Hansen then rallied for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over Carley Sickinger at flight one to level the match at 2-2, and Martina Marras downed Trammell 6-0, 6-1 at flight five for a 3-2 Tusculum lead. Sarah Primik delivered the clincher as she beat Donaldson 6-2, 6-3 at flight four.

Tusculum will be home for the first time this spring on Saturday as the Pioneers host Young Harris at 2 p.m. in a non-conference match at the Nichols Tennis Complex.