JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. --- Tusculum College defeated host Carson-Newman University 8-1 in South Atlantic Conference men's tennis action Tuesday afternoon.

The Pioneers (18-2, 9-1 SAC) moved within one victory of their third SAC championship in the last four years, while the Eagles dropped to 6-13 overall and 3-8 in the conference with the loss.

Tusculum swept doubles play from Carson-Newman, as Tim Stierle teamed with Jonas Winkelmann for an 8-2 win over Stefano Daza and Juan Sebastian Perez at flight one, while Tashique Kader and Leon Seiz partnered for an 8-3 win at flight two over Joao Pedro Oliveira and Jesus Bacete-Sanz. At flight three, Eduardo Munoz and David Siegle posted an 8-3 victory against Lee Presson and Kevin Mendes.

In singles, Winkelmann defeated Daza 6-1, 6-0 at flight three to give the Pioneers a 4-0 lead, and Stierle clinched the match at flight one by beating Oliveira 6-2, 6-0. Kader also picked up a straight-sets win as he defeated Marc Bantel 6-4, 6-3 at flight four. The Pioneers also earned a pair of pro set victories as Seiz downed Mendes 8-5 at flight five, and Siegle beat Bacete-Sanz 8-1 at flight six.

Tusculum will host Queens University of Charlotte on Friday at 3 p.m. in the conclusion of a match that was suspended on March 5 due to rain, with the Pioneers leading 3-1. If the Pioneers finish off the victory over the Royals, it would give Tusculum its second straight SAC championship and third in the last four years.

- TC -