SUMTER, S.C. --- Tusculum University came from behind in singles to defeat Carson-Newman University 4-2 in the South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Championship semifinals Friday afternoon at the Palmetto Tennis Center.
The second-seeded Pioneers (17-5) won the last three singles matches over the third-seeded Eagles (13-8) to advance to Saturday's championship against top-seeded Wingate, which beat Limestone 4-0 in the other semifinal. Match time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Tusculum, ranked 26th in the latest ITA Division II rankings, will be seeking its second SAC Tournament championship in the last three years and the fourth in program history. Wingate, ranked 14th in Division II this week, will look for its sixth title and its first since winning back-to-back championship in 2018 and 2019.
In doubles play, Nemanja Subanovic and Marco Jalalian put the Pioneers ahead with a 6-2 win at flight one over Marc Janse and Rintaro Oka. At flight three, Rhodri Atkinson and Frank Bonacia built a 5-1 lead over Lars Hordijk and Marnix Van Dalen, then held on for a 6-4 win to give the Pioneers the 1-0 advantage in the match.
Carson-Newman would level the match at 1-1 at flight one, where Janse beat Nemanja Subanovic by a 6-2, 6-3 score. Moments later, Hordijk gave the Eagles a 2-1 lead as he beat Nathan Matsuguma 6-3, 6-2 at flight six. Kenta Kondou would bring the Pioneers back into a 2-2 deadlock as he beat Oka 6-3, 6-2 at flight three.
Bonacia put the Pioneers back in front at flight four as he twice came back from 4-5 deficits to squeeze out a 7-5, 7-6 win over Gjorgji Jankulovski. Atkinson closed out the victory for Tusculum as he rallied from a set down for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over Van Dalen.
Tusculum and Wingate have never met in the SAC Championship match, despite the programs combining for seven of the last 14 tournament championships. The winner of Saturday's match will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament. Wingate beat Tusculum 5-2 in the regular-season meeting on April 11 in Greeneville.
