HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Lincoln Memorial tennis teams opened their 2020 spring season with identical 4-3 wins over the University of the Cumberlands Saturday in the LMU Indoor Tennis Facility.
 
The Patriots jumped out to a fast 1-0 leads after the doubles, and held 3-1 leads in both matches before LMU was able forge their comeback wins in the remaining singles courts.
 
For the LMU men, Jake Tuchmann, Xavier Marti, and Nic Goslar each won their matches in straight sets. The Railsplitters needed a super-tiebreak win from Sebastian Colla to gain the momentum back, and help set up Tuchmann for the win at #6 singles and the deciding 4^th point.
 
On the women's courts, LMU had virtually the same scenario. The Lady Railsplitters trailed after doubles and 1-3 after the first round singles came off. Only senior Kiersten Waugh got a win in the first matches, although LMU got great efforts from Johanna Delisse and Amanda Dahlstrom who were defeated in super-breakers.
 
Trailing 1-3, LMU mounted a steady comeback, as Julia Valls and Claudia Rodriguez each collected wins to set the stage for Kristin Vogel at the #6 singles spot. The junior from Germany lost the first set, but rallied to take the second set 6-3 and reach a match tiebreaker. Vogel split the first 6 points, but then rolled to a 10-5 victory that gave the Lady Railsplitters their second win of the year.
 
"It's always nice to get a win, but we also want to focus on the process of improving," said head coach Mark Walters after the results. "We have a few loose ends to tie up in doubles (where LMU won only one of 6 matches), and a short amount of time to get it done, but the kids are working at it."
 
LMU returns to action Sunday with a 2pm start against local NAIA rival Union College. The match will be held in the Indoor Tennis Facility.