GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Elena Vasilyeva (Yaroslavl, Russia) extended her winning streak to nine and improved to 8-0 in South Atlantic Conference play as the Lady Railsplitters (5-6, 3-5 SAC) suffered an 8-1 loss to the 31st-ranked Tusculum Pioneers (15-1, 7-1 SAC) on Thursday in Greeneville, Tenn.

Vasilyeva handed Kealee Heffner just her second loss of the season by grinding out a 6-2, 4-6, 10-5 win at the No. 1 singles flight, improving her overall singles record to 9-2. The Yaroslavl, Russia native hasn't lost a match since falling to Eastern Kentucky's Amandine Faouzi on February 6.

Aside from Vasilyeva's singles match, Tusculum dominated from start to finish.

The Pioneers swept doubles play to jump out to an early 3-0 advantage. Franziska Funke and Amanda Sumner topped Vasilyeva and Gemma Goodland (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) 8-4 at the No. 1 flight, while Summer Robinson (Midway, Tenn.) and Angelica Solano (Bogota, Columbia) were dropped by Heffner and Erin Mills 8-2 in the second tandem match. Kate Hutchinson and Emily Waters completed the doubles sweep with a win over Roksolana Prudyvus (Lviv, Ukraine) and Priscilla Bulandres (Markham, Ontario, Canada) at the third flight.

Tusculum was even more dominant in singles play. Goodland was beaten by Mills 6-4, 6-2 in the second flight and Funke built a 4-1 lead over Bulandres in the third flight before Bulandres opted to retire from the match. Hutchinson lost just two games in a 6-1, 6-1 win over Prudyvus in the fourth flight, while Adrienne Kaye didn't lose a single game in a 6-0, 6-0 win over Robinson in the fifth flight.

Solano battled tough, but lost an 8-6 decision to Sarah Baker in an accelerated finish at the sixth flight.

The Lady Railsplitters return to the LMU Tennis Complex on Saturday to host the Newberry Wolves for a South Atlantic Conference clash, with doubles action set to begin at 1 p.m.

---

Lincoln Memorial vs Tusculum
Apr 02, 2015 at Greeneville, Tenn.
#31 Tusculum 8, Lincoln Memorial 1

Singles competition:
1. Elena Vasilyeva (LMU) def. Kealee Heffner (TCW) 6-2, 4-6, 10-5
2. Erin Mills (TCW) def. Gemma Goodland (LMU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Franziska Funke (TCW) def. Priscilla Bulandres (LMU) 4-1, retired
4. Kate Hutchinson (TCW) def. Roksolana Prudyvus (LMU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Adrienne Kaye (TCW) def. Summer Robinson (LMU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Sarah Baker (TCW) def. Angelica Solano (LMU) 8-6

Doubles competition:
1. Franziska Funke/Amanda Sumner (TCW) def. Elena Vasilyeva/Gemma Goodland (LMU) 8-4
2. Kealee Heffner/Erin Mills (TCW) def. Summer Robinson/Angelica Solano (LMU) 8-2
3. Kate Hutchinson/Emily Waters (TCW) def. Roksolana Prudyvus/Priscilla Bulandres (LMU) 6-1

Match Notes:
Lincoln Memorial 5-6, 3-5 SAC
Tusculum 15-1, 7-1 SAC; National ranking #31; Regional ranking #7