GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Though the Carson-Newman Eagles (3-8, 2-6) fought hard and gave great effort, South Atlantic Conference rival Tusculum College (13-1, 6-1) was just too much to handle as they handed Carson-Newman their fourth straight loss Tuesday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex.
After Stefano Daza (Venezuela) and Garret Duron (Woodstock, Ga.) dropped the top-ranked doubles match 8-2 against the Pioneers' Winklemann brothers, who are perfect on the season at 13-0, Juan Sebastian Perez (Ecuador) and Kevin Mendes (Woodstock, Ga.) quickly answered back with an 8-4 set victory against a pair of Pioneers, to even the overall match score at 1-1. Joao Pedro Oliveria (Brazil) and Austin Mackay (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) suffered just their second loss of the season in duels after falling 8-5 in No. 3 doubles.
Lukas Winklemann, who is a perfect 13-0 on the year for Tusculum, made short work of Oliveira in match between the team's top-players, winning 6-2, 6-1. Perez came through on top in a hard fought match at No. 2 position, winning 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 to record the Eagles' second overall point of the day.
After Perez's win, Carson-Newman dropped three consecutive matches before winning its final point at No. 6. Daza, Mackay, and Mendes would all be set down in order in straight sets. Duron came up with the win at No. 6 to cap the day for the Eagles with a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
"We didn't play poorly," coach Jean Love said following the loss. "Tusculum really played well. Hats off to them."
Carson-Newman will hit the road again Friday for a 10 a.m. matchup against SAC foe Coker.
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