Carson-Newman Advances With 5-1 Win Over Tusculum

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Carson-Newman avenged a regular-season loss to South Atlantic Conference rival Tusculum with a 5-1 win in the first round of the 2009 NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Southeast Regional on Thursday afternoon at the AASU Tennis Complex in Savannah.

The Lady Eagles (14-2) fell to the Lady Pioneers (17-6) in the regular season, 6-3, back on March 22, but Carson-Newman entered the regional on a roll, capturing the SAC Tournament to earn an automatic berth.

Tusculum got a quick start in the match as the doubles duo of Jessi Smith and Heidi von der Lage picked up an 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles over Kylie Elliott and Emily Sorah. Carson-Newman came back to take the next two doubles matches, however, as Amanda Bartlett and Taryn Cappadona defeated Caroline Crowe and Katelyn Doss, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles and Cassie Moulton and Elizabeth Sneed defeated Amanda Pike and Jennier Sparks, 8-6, at No. 2 doubles.

The Lady Eagles won five of six first sets to take charge in singles. Bartlett scored the first singles point for Carson-Newman with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Sparks at No. 1 singles. Cappadona then delivered a 6-2, 6-2 win over von der Lage at No. 4 singles. Elliott clinched the match for the Lady Eagles with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Pike at No. 3 singles.

The win was the first NCAA Regional win for Carson-Newman since 1997, when they advanced to the Round of 16. The Lady Eagles face a tough task in the second round when they match up against defending DII national champion Armstrong Atlantic on Friday, May 8, at 8:00 a.m.