LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. --- Tusculum College dropped two matches to nationally-ranked opponents in women's tennis action on Saturday. The Pioneers fell 5-1 to NAIA top-ranked defending champion Georgia Gwinnett, then lost 6-2 to NCAA Division II 26th-ranked West Alabama.

The Pioneers (2-2) will remain on the road Saturday at 34th-ranked North Georgia. Match time is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Georgia Gwinnett 5, Tusculum 1
The Tusculum doubles team of Franziska Funke and Katarina Majorova pulled off an upset of the top-ranked doubles team in the NAIA, beating Chiara Di Salvo and Alyona Vasilyeva by a score of 9-8, winning the tiebreaker by a 7-0 score.

The Pioneers also battled the Grizzlies in singles, as Annie McCullough won a set in an unfinished match at flight three while Sarah Baker was one game away from leveling her match at flight five before Georgia Gwinnett earned the clinching point.

West Alabama 6, Tusculum 2
After falling behind 3-0 in doubles, the Pioneers clawed back with wins from Majorova at flight two over Evelyn Moreno by a 6-3, 6-0 score and by McCullough at flight three by a 7-5, 6-1 score over Georgina Morral. The Tigers (1-1) won the other three singles matches, but needed a third set at flight five as Liliana Araucz downed baker 6-0, 3-6, 6-2.