NEWBERRY - Despite gutty performances and tight battles throughout the afternoon, the Newberry men's and women's tennis teams were edged by visiting Tusculum in South Atlantic Conference action at the Cannon Courts on Tuesday.

The men's team narrowly lost to the Pioneers by a 5-4 score, while the women's team lost to No. 44 Tusculum by a 6-3 line.

The match was the final home match at the Cannon Courts for Fernando Espana, Tara Lamers, Vanessa Ortiz and Sierra Whaley.

Newberry resumes action on the road Saturday at 11 a.m. at Wingate.

MEN: Tusculum 5, Newberry 4

The sides split the singles portion of the competition, but the guests' 2-1 advantage in the doubles section narrowly defeated the Wolves.

Jordan Monosky and Jacob Svantesson picked up an 8-5 win at No. 2 doubles, but the Nos. 1 and 3 tandems each dropped 8-3 matches to their Tusculum counterparts.

The first two single matches played to completion were Tusculum wins, putting the guests up 4-1 before Fernando Tous wrapped up a 6-4, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles. Tusculumwon at No. 4 singles to clinch the win despite wins at Nos. 5 and 6 from Angel Pizzaro and Logan Adkins.

Newberry falls to 18-3 overall and 7-2 in the South Atlantic Conference with two conference matches remaining.

WOMEN: No. 44 Tusculum 6, Newberry 3

The Pioneers took all three doubles matches to negate a split of the singles action, including tough performances through adversity by the Wolves' most successful players.

Elizabeth Williamson - ranked 25th nationally and sixth in the Southeast Region - dropped the first set and experienced leg cramps in the late stages of the third set before prevailing by a 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Williamson moves to an undefeated 19-0 in singles action this year.

Amanda Carrillo also fought through adversity in the latter stages of the No. 3 singles match before fighting to a 6-4, 7-5 victory, moving to 18-0 in singles action this season. Paula Avellan picked up the other win at No. 5 singles, 8-6.

Newberry is now 15-4 overall and 7-2 in the conference.