SAVANNAH, Ga. --- Carson-Newman avenged a regular-season loss to South Atlantic Conference rival Tusculum with a 5-1 win in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Southeast Regional on Thursday afternoon. The regional is being held on the campus of Armstrong Atlantic State University at the AASU Tennis Complex.

The Lady Eagles (14-2) fell to the Pioneers (17-6) in the regular season, 6-3, on March 22, but Carson-Newman entered the regional on a roll, capturing the Food Lion SAC Tournament to earn an automatic berth. The win increases C-N's winning streak to 10 in a row, with their last loss coming to Tusculum two months ago.

Tusculum got a quick start in the match as the doubles duo of Jessi Smith and Heidi von der Lage picked up an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles over Kylie Elliott and Emily Sorah. Carson-Newman came back to take the next two doubles matches, however, as Amanda Bartlett and Taryn Cappadona defeated Caroline Crowe and Katelyn Doss, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles and Cassie Moulton and Elizabeth Sneed defeated Amanda Pike and Jennifer Sparks, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles.

The Lady Eagles won five of six first sets to take charge in singles. Bartlett scored the first singles point for Carson-Newman with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Sparks at No. 1 singles. Cappadona then delivered a 6-2, 6-2 win over von der Lage at No. 4 singles. Elliott clinched the match for the Lady Eagles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Pike at No. 3 singles.

The win was the first NCAA Regional win for Carson-Newman since 1997, when they advanced to the Round of 16. The Lady Eagles face a tough task in the second round when they match up against defending DII national champion Armstrong Atlantic.

Tusculum wraps up a successful season as the Pioneers finished with the third most wins in school history (17). The Pioneers, who won the SAC Championship with a perfect 8-0 record, were making their school record seventh NCAA Tournament appearance. Thursday's match also ends the sensational collegiate careers for Pike, Sparks and von der Lage.

- NCAA -

Carson-Newman 5, Tusculum 1
Singles
1 - Amanda Bartlett (CN) def. Jennifer Sparks 6-1, 6-2
2 - Katelyn Doss (TC) vs. Elizabeth Sneed DNF
3 - Kylie Elliott (CN) def. Amanda Pike 6-4, 6-2
4 - Taryn Cappadona (CN) def. Heidi von der Lage 6-2, 6-2
5 - Caroline Crowe (TC) vs. Emily Sorah DNF
6 - Blake Thompson (TC) vs. Cassie Moulton DNF

Doubles
1 - Bartlett/Cappadona (CN) def. Crowe/Doss 8-4
2 - Moulton/Sneed (CN) def. Pike/Sparks 8-6
3 - Jessi Smith/von der Lage (TC) def. Elliott/Sorah 8-2