GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Lee University Women's Tennis team dropped its second match of the year with a 6-1 loss at Tusculum University. The non-conference match was played at Tusculum's Nichols Tennis Complex.
Lisa Kirr and Lauren Trammell gave Lee (4-2) an early advantage with a 6-0 defeat of Brittani Brooks and Emilie Hansen at the third position. Julia Lopez and Africa Mota held off Carley Sickinger and Francesca Tondi 6-4 to leave the No. 1 doubles match as the tie-breaker to determine which team would earn the doubles point. Tusculum (4-2) garnered the point when Annie McCullough and Caitlin McCullough outlasted Asia Grzegrzolka and Micaela Belen Maiz 7-5.
Hansen gave the Pioneers a 2-0 lead when Tondi retired. Tondi had won the opening set 6-0 and led 1-0 in the second set at the time. Annie McCullough, ranked No. 35, beat Sickinger 6-3 and 6-2 to build the lead. Caitlin McCullough tallied matching set scores of 6-2 to defeat Grzegrzolka and clinch the team win.
Martina Marras recorded an 8-4 superset victory over Lauren Trammell at No. 6 singles. Lopez put Tusculum up 6-0 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Kirr.
Belen Maiz was a 9-7 winner against Mota in the fifth position to help the Lady Flames avoid the shutout.
The Lady Flames begin their spring break trip with a stop in Carrollton, Ga., to face West Georgia on Friday. The Gulf South Conference match is scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.
