The Tusculum College Women's tennis team opened its spring schedule Friday afternoon with a 5-4 loss to the University of North Georgia at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

The Pioneers (3-1) fell behind 2-1 in doubles to the Nighthawks (1-1), who then won the first three singles matches via tiebreaker to clinch the victory. Tusculum claimed wins in the final three singles contests to set the final score.

In doubles play, the Nighthawks earned wins at flight one from Natalia Escobar and Mathilde Baartvedt and at flight two from Cameron Williams and Adalyn Hazelman, with the Pioneers salvaging a point as the team of Emily Waters and Amanda Sumner downed Nela Handac and Audrey Marlette by an 8-6 score.

The first three singles matches followed an identical pattern, with North Georgia winning the first set, only to see Tusculum rally to force a tiebreaker which the Nighthawks would win. Williams, Escobar and Baartvedt were the victorious players for North Georgia at flights one through three, respectively.

Kealee Heffner earned a win for the Pioneers with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Hazelman at flight four, Adrienne Kaye defeated Handac 6-4, 6-3 at flight five and Waters downed Alexis Lee 6-2, 6-2 at flight six to close out the match.

The Pioneers will return to action next Saturday when they host North Greenville in a non-conference match at the Nichols Tennis Complex, beginning at 2 p.m.