GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Carson-Newman senior Carly Mozgai (Greensboro, N.C.) recorded 11 kills, including the 1,000th of her career, but the Lady Eagles dropped their third-straight South Atlantic Conference road match 3-1 to rival Tusculum College on Tuesday night at Pioneer Arena.

The Pioneers (6-2, 4-0) rallied from a set down to post their fifth consecutive victory and remain in first place in the league standings.  TC won the match by scores of 12-25, 25-14, 25-18, 25-20.

Mozgai led the Lady Eagles with 11 kills as C-N raced to a 1-0 lead, winning the first set 25-12, but the Pioneers would rally.

Sam Underwood recorded 12 kills and a .310 hitting percentage to lead Tusculum.

Rhayne Smitherman led all players with 13 kills, while SAC Specialist of the Week Ashley Sarmiento finished with 39 assists and a match-high four service aces.  Caitlyn Dean accounted for 22 digs, while Melanie Gibson added 10.

C-N's Carly Swisher recorded 11 kills, while Courtney Lawson and Lara McDonald distributed 21 and 13 assists, respectively.  Four Lady Eagles (5-3, 1-3 SAC) recorded double-figure digs, including Rachael Bowlin (13), Lara McDonald (13), Angelle Hayes (12) and Courtney Lawson (10).  Nikki James added nine kills and seven blocks, including four solos.

Carson-Newman jumped out to a 14-2 lead in the opening set and posted a .423 attack percentage in winning 25-12.

Tusculum answered in the second as TC hit .423, including three kills each by Underwood, Smitherman and senior Allyson Ray in posting a 25-14 win.  TC would capture the third set 25-18 thanks to hitting .400 as a team, including Underwood's .714 effort in the frame.

The Pioneers led throughout most of the fourth set leading by as many as 16-10.  But Carson-Newman would inch its way back and cut the lead to three on three occasions down the stretch, including a block solo by James to make the score 23-20.  But the Pioneers captured the final two points to seal the victory between the two programs that advanced to the 2009 NCAA Division II Tournament.

Tusculum returns to action Friday night when they host Catawba College for a 7 p.m. match at Pioneer Arena.  Carson-Newman hosts Maryville College next Tuesday night at 6 p.m. from Holt Fieldhouse.