ANDERSON, S.C. – The Carson-Newman (5-18, 3-8 SAC) men's tennis team dropped today's match 5-4 to Anderson (9-7, 8-2 SAC).

"This was one of the best college matches I've seen," Carson-Newman head tennis coach Jean Love said. "We started a little slow in doubles."

The Eagles trailed by one after doubles play. The team of Joao Pedro Oliveria (Brazil) and Austin Mackay (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) defeated Juan Carracedo and Alex Wallace 8-5 in the no. 2 position.

Jonathan Allen (Lenoir City, Tenn.) and Garret Duron (Woodstock, Ga.) put up a good fight at no. 3 doubles. The duo fell to Tomas Passalacqua and Inaki Iriberry 8-5.

Juan Perez (Ecuador) supplied the Eagles' first singles point in the no. 2 spot. Perez toppled Passalacqua 6-1, 6-2.

"Juan played solid in singles," Coach Love said. "He evened the score up 2-2."

Anderson came back and took the lead. "JP and Jonathan dropped their matches at one and four," Coach Love said, "causing us to go down 4-2."

Mackay made the score 4-3 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Iriberry at no. 5 singles.

Duron overpowered Alex Wallace in three sets 0-6, 6-3, 10-8. "It was a marathon match," Coach Love said. "It was split after two sets, and Garret pulled out the third set tie break."

With the match tied at fours, it all came down to Stefano Daza (Venezuela) at no. 3 singles. Daza took Mateo Rivas into three sets, but Rivas ultimately came out on top with a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 final.

"Stefano had three match points," Coach Love said. "He just couldn't convert."

The Eagles played their hearts out in their final conference match of the season "We have come so far this year," Coach Love said. "This match was a huge step forward. I couldn't be any prouder of the way we competed today."

C-N heads to the University of the Cumberlands Tuesday at 3 p.m.