JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- Tusculum University beach volleyball won the first match of the day over Erskine (3-2), but suffered the program's first loss to archrival Carson-Newman in the nightcap, 3-1.

Tusculum has a few weeks to prepare for three Division I matchups, two of which are currently ranked in the top-20. The College of Charleston Beach Classic is set to begin on April 3 with TU and No. 18 Georgia State.

Freshmen Charlyn Miller and Olivia O'Keefe suffered a loss to the Flying Fleet in the top flight, 21-16, 21-18. In the second position, the program's winningest player, Haley Davis, was partnered with Emma Johnson and dominated the Erskine duo 21-8, 21-13. Britney Shawel and Diana Bierwagen eked out a 21-19, 21-17 in flight three. Skyellar Hall and Emily Lawless also won by closer margins, 21-17, 21-16. Rounding out the decisions were Mabry Ward and Emily Venable. The fifth pair lost 21-14, 21-12 over their Erskine counterparts.

In the exhibition matchup, Destiny Ramsey and Gabby Rambo dropped two tightly contested sets, 21-18, 24-22.

The Pioneers' match against Carson-Newman was ended early due to darkness and, per NCAA ruling, the Eagles were declared the winners, as they were leading at the cessation of play. Only three countable flights were completed, but Carson-Newman had claimed the first set of the fourth.

The second flight, featuring Davis and Johnson, was the match that only went one set, 25-23 in the Eagles' favor. Shawel and Bierwagen went the distance as the third pair, but fell 21-17, 20-22, 12-15. Hall and Lawless squeaked out the narrowest of two-set victories, 21-19, 21-19. Ward and Venable also needed three frames to decide a winner, yet a reverse sweep came up just short (18-21, 21-18, 11-15).

In exhibition action, Ramsey and Arizona Webb pushed the Carson-Newman pair to the limit and won (21-14, 14-21, 16-14).