HICKORY, N.C. --- The Tusculum College Women's tennis team defeated Lenoir-Rhyne University 7-2 in its South Atlantic Conference opener Saturday afternoon.

The 47th-ranked Pioneers (6-0, 1-0 SAC) swept the Bears (5-6, 1-2 SAC) in doubles, then won four of the six singles matches to earn the win.

In doubles play, Franziska Funke and Amanda Sumner beat Dominique Bruce and Marta Escanero Funes 8-3 at flight one, Erin Mills and Kealee Heffner defeated Julia Ponomareva and Lucy Stofberg 8-1 at flight two, and Adrienne Kaye teamed with Emily Waters to beat Taylor Fredrickson and Jessica Rumple 8-1 at flight three.

The Pioneers locked up the victory over the Bears with wins in two of the first three singles matches. Funke beat Bruce 6-4, 6-2 at flight one, and Mills earned the decisive point with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ponomareva at flight three.

Also in singles play, Jule Brass defeated Fredrickson 8-1 at flight five and Sumner bested Rumple 8-2 at flight six in pro set action.

Tusculum will travel to Milligan on Sunday for the resumption of their match that was suspended by rain on Feb. 20 with the Pioneers leading the Buffs 2-0. Match time is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.

- TC -