Wednesday, April 2, 2008

TUSCULUM MEN WIN EIGHTH IN A ROW, PIONEERS BEAT MHC 7-2

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The No. 37 Tusculum men’s tennis team posted a 7-2 South Atlantic Conference victory over visiting Mars Hill Wednesday afternoon at the Nichols Tennis Complex. The Pioneers (13-1, 4-0 SAC) win their eighth consecutive match, while the Lions (10-3, 3-1 SAC) suffer their first league loss of the season.

Tusculum swept the three doubles matches, including an 8-4 pro set win by the No. 1 duo of Sergio Espinosa and Carlos Garcia.

Nicolas Bigler and Garcia won their matches at the No. 1 and No. 3 flights, respectively to clinch the win for the Pioneers.

MHC’s Koeche Smith outlasted Espinosa 7-6, 1-6, 6-3 at No. 2 singles, while teammate Camilo Bueno won his match over Leo Guaycurus 6-3, 6-1 at the fifth flight.

Tusculum’s Henrique Rodrigues accounted for a point at No. 4 singles defeating Esteban Mesa 6-0, 6-2, while Hunter Beal rallied from a set down to win 4-6, 6-4, (10-4) in the final match of the day.

Wingate is the next opponent for both teams. Tusculum will host Wingate on Friday at 4 p.m., while the Lions entertain the Bulldogs on Saturday.

- TC -

No. 37 Tusculum 7, Mars Hill 2
Singles
1 – Nicolas Bigler (TC) def. John Allen	6-1, 7-5
2 – Koeche Smith (MHC) def. Sergio Espinosa	7-6, 1-6, 6-3
3 – Carlos Garcia (TC) def. Ugras Taylan Batuk	6-0, 6-2
4 – Henrique Rodrigues (TC) def. Esteban Mesa	6-3, 6-1
5 – Camilo Bueno (MHC) def. Leo Guaycurus	6-3, 6-1
6 – Hunter Beal (TC) def. Stevan Stankovic	4-6, 6-4 (10-4)
Doubles
1 – Espinosa/Garcia (TC) def. Allen/Smith	8-4
2 – Guaycurus/Rodrigues (TC) def. Bueno/Mesa	8-5
3 – Beal/Bigler (TC) def. Batuk/Oyaga	8-3