ANDERSON, S.C. - Snapping a three-match losing streak, Anderson University men's tennis got back into the win column with a key South Atlantic Conference victory over Tusculum, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at Max Grubbs Memorial Courts.
With the triumph, AU's record improves to 2-4 on the season and 2-1 in conference play, while the Pioneers drop their conference opener and move to an even 3-3 for the young season.
The 5-4 win marks the second time in two years Anderson has defeated Tusculum by a single team point. Last year's match, in the Volunteer State, came down to the wire with the Trojans escaping with a narrow 5-4 win as they went on to share the regular season league title with Tusculum prior to the start of the SAC Tournament.
Anderson began the match quickly winning 2-of-3 doubles matches, as sophomore Paul Michael Calhoun and senior Danilo Faria knocked off John Taylor and David Siegle at the No. 2 position, 8-2. The sophomore tandem of Tomas Passalacqua and Inaki Iriberry clinched the 2-1 lead after the doubles round with an 8-6 win over Tusculum's Nicolas Planchard and Leon Seiz at No. 3.
The top-three in Anderson's singles lineup were all knocked off, as the bottom three sealed the conference victory. Calhoun, who came away with the Trojans' lone point against Coker on Saturday, started the winning stretch with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Siegle at the No. 4 position. Iriberry followed Calhoun with a triumph at No. 5, defeating Taylor 6-3, 6-4, while Faria clinched the match with a three-set victory over Seiz, 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6 to propel AU to its second SAC win of the year.
AU returns to action on Saturday when it remains in the Upstate to square off against SAC opponent, Mars Hill. First serve from Max Grubbs Memorial Courts is scheduled for 1 p.m.
