GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University moved one step closer to a South Atlantic Conference championship in women's tennis as the Pioneers defeated Emory & Henry College 5-2 Wednesday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex.

The Pioneers (14-5, 10-1 SAC) will earn no worse than a share of the SAC championship and will be the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament with a win at Catawba in their regular-season finale on Thursday. Tusculum, ranked 29th this week by the ITA, has won four straight matches including three at home in a three-day span.

Tusculum swept doubles from the Wasps (4-12, 0-11 SAC) and lost a total of four games in the first half of singles to clinch the victory. Emory & Henry, playing in its first season as a member of the SAC, lost its 12th consecutive match.

In doubles, the tandem of Tabitha Howe and Paulina Loretz beat Sabina Chernega and Natalie Bergmann 6-1 at flight one, while at flight two Elodie Baechler and Valentina Loretz picked up their ninth straight win by beating Emma Charlton and Katie Bradley 6-2. At flight three, Leonie Floeth and Ylva Frafjord Landa beat Nina Williams and Millie Turner by a 6-2 score to finish the doubles sweep.

In singles play, Howe defeated Chernega 6-0, 6-1 at flight one, Valentina Loretz won 6-0, 6-1 over Williams at flight three and Johanna Palacio clinched the win with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over Bradley at flight five.

In the second half of singles, the Pioneers' lone senior took the court as Chelsea Daugherty squared off against Turner at flight six. Baechler earned an 8-1 win over Charlton at flight two, and Bergmann took the second singles point for the Wasps with an 8-6 victory over Landa at flight four.

The Pioneers visit Catawba at 1 p.m. on Thursday to take on the 34th-ranked Indians, who began Wednesday's action in a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings with Anderson and Newberry at 8-2.