Carson-Newman picks up pressure-packed comeback win over Tennessee Wesleyan

Trailing 4-1 in its match with Tenn. Wesleyan (6-4), Carson-Newman (4-6) needed to be flawless to win its second straight match. The Eagles provided such perfection at in the third through sixth singles matches to scoot out of the Carson-Newman Tennis Complex with a 5-4 win Friday afternoon.

The match started well for the Eagles as Brooke Sanderson (Evans, Ga.) and Megan Wilson moved their no. 3 doubles record to 3-3 with an 8-2 buzzsawing of Bridget Malone and Kristen Camp.

However, the Bulldogs would win the other two doubles points and the first two singles points to set the stage for C-N’s comeback.

In a must-win situation, Haleigh Chastain (Knoxville, Tenn.) fell behind in her match with Tatum McMahon at no. 3 singles 6-4. However, Chastain stormed back to win sets two and three 6-3 and 6-0, respectively.

The final three singles matches would not be so dramatic. Jen Ott won her third straight match at no. 4 singles, 6-1, 6-3 against Jayden Morris.

Then Sanderson blanked Malone 6-0, 6-0 at no. 5 singles before Tiffany Delias (Morristown, Tenn.) sent Camp packing 6-2, 6-2 to give the match to the Eagles.

The back-to-back wins are Carson-Newman’s first since beating Covenant and King back to back in March of 2012.

The Eagles remain at home for an 11 a.m. match with Newberry Saturday.