HARROGATE, Tenn. --- The University of Charleston defeated Tusculum University 4-3 in non-conference women's tennis Friday evening at the LMU Indoor Facility.
The Golden Eagles (5-0) won the doubles point, but the Pioneers (2-2) captured two of the first three singles matches to level the score. Charleston would then win two straight to clinch the match.
Charleston took the doubles point by winning a pair of matches by identical 6-1 scores, then went ahead 2-0 with a singles victory before the Pioneers came back to tie the match at 2-2. Tabitha Howe defeated Sofiia Krasikova 7-6 (7-1), 6-2 at flight two and Valentina Loretz beat Barbara Balancho 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 at flight six to knot the match at two points apiece.
However, the Golden Eagles would earn straight-set wins at flights one and three to clinch the match, while the Pioneers were able to salvage the final match of the day at flight five as Elodie Baechler defeated Riva Hondiashvili 7-5, 6-3.
Tusculum will return to the courts Saturday as the Pioneers square off with Young Harris at 5 p.m. at Lincoln Memorial.
