HARROGATE, Tenn. --- The 23rd-ranked Tusculum University men's tennis team opened its spring season on Saturday with a pair of matches at the Lincoln Memorial University Tennis Complex. The Pioneers lost 5-2 to the University of Charleston in their morning match, and came back with a 4-3 victory over Young Harris College in the afternoon contest.

The Pioneers (2-1) open their South Atlantic Conference schedule on Tuesday, Feb. 15 hosting Mars Hill in their home opener at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

Charleston 5, Tusculum 2
The Golden Eagles (4-0) swept doubles from the Pioneers, then won two of the first three singles matches to claim the victory. The Pioneers picked up wins from Nemanja Subanovic at flight two and Vadzim Raitsou at flight six, with Subanovic defeating John Giesberts 6-3, 6-2 and Raitsou beating Lennert Stevens 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

Tusculum 4, Young Harris 3
The Pioneers fell behind 1-0 after doubles as the Mountain Lions (2-2) took two of the three pro sets. Robin Eldin and Jacco Mensinga earned the lone win for the Pioneers with a 6-4 victory at flight two over Pieke Bouman and Romeo Luque.

In singles, the Pioneers won the first three matches to take a 3-1 lead. Subanovic defeated Bouman 6-4, 6-3 at flight one, Miles Ray beat Chimo Minguez Ribera 7-6, 6-3 at flight three, and Nathan Matsuguma beat Luque 6-2, 6-4 at flight five. The Pioneers got the clinching point from Eldin at flight two, as he beat Rodrigo Mendoza 6-4, 6-4.