HICKORY, N.C. --- The 49th-ranked Tusculum College men's tennis team opened its South Atlantic Conference schedule Saturday afternoon with a 7-2 victory at Lenoir-Rhyne University.

The Pioneers (6-0, 1-0 SAC) swept doubles competition from the Bears (4-5, 1-2 SAC) then won four of the six singles matches to earn the victory.

In doubles play, the team of Tim Stierle and Jonas Winkelmann beat Patrick Bauer and Shane O'Dea 9-8 (7-5) at flight one, Tashique Kader and Leon Seiz teamed to beat Tomas Hons and Matthew Ledford 8-3 at flight two, and at flight three Fabian Paier and David Siegle edged Filip Dobrosavljevic and Alex Crespo Sanchez in a tiebreak by a 9-8 (7-5) score.

The Pioneers clinched the match with the first two singles results, as Stierle beat Hons 6-2, 6-1 at flight two and Winkelmann got past O'Dea 6-1, 6-2 at flight three. The other victories for the Pioneers came at flight five, as Kader beat Dobrosavljevic 6-1, 6-3, and at fight six, where Toby de Klerk beat Ledford 8-0 in a pro set.

Tusculum will travel to Milligan on Sunday to complete a match that was halted due to rain on Feb. 20. The Pioneers lead the Buffs 1-0 in doubles play when action resumes at 12:30 on Sunday.

- TC -