HARROGATE, Tenn. – The doubles point proved to be the difference maker as the Lincoln Memorial University men's tennis team began South Atlantic Conference play 1-0 with a narrow 4-3 victory over visiting Catawba College Saturday afternoon at the Poteat Tennis Complex.
 
Despite faltering at the top doubles spot, the Railsplitters got strong performances at the second and third doubles flights to clinch the overwhelmingly important doubles point. LMU then rode that momentum to capture singles wins at the NO. 2, No. 4 and No. 5 positions, securing the Railsplitters' conference opener.
 
With the victory, LMU improves to 3-8 on the season and 1-0 in SAC action, while the Indians fall to 1-7 and 0-1.
 
"I didn't know what to expect in doubles, but it didn't take a genius to figure out that being up 1-0 in this type of match was going to be a big boost for whoever got that point," said head coach Marc Walters.
 
Junior Iker Moure and senior Jake Tuchmann gutted out a 6-4 win at second doubles after senior Xavier Marti and sophomore Fabian Sjokvist picked up a 6-3 triumph at No. 3 doubles.
 
The Railsplitters took the opening set on the top five singles courts as Tuchmann and Marti proved to be two-time winners. Marti cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2 singles and Tuchmann claimed a 6-3, 6-2 victory at No. 5 singles. After Moure and Sjokvist were unable to close out three-set affairs at the top singles spot and at No. 3 singles, respectively, sophomore Sebastian Colla provided the match-clincher at No. 4 singles.
 
Back-to-back 6-4 set wins by Colla over Catawba's Joseph Honorio secured the duel.
 
"Sebastian has been improving steadily each of the past four weeks, and today his focus was exceptional," noted coach Walters. "His ability to fight back from a small deficit is the biggest reason he has turned a corner mentally, and he is playing to his strengths more and staying disciplined."
 
Up Next…
The Railsplitters continue league play next week when they travel to Jefferson City, Tennessee, to take on the Eagles of Carson-Newman at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex Wednesday, March 11. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
 
How to Follow
Stay tuned to LMURailsplitters.com, as well as LMU's social media platforms - @LMURailsplitter on Twitter, @LMURailsplitters on Facebook and @lmurailsplitters on Instagram, for complete coverage of Railsplitter tennis throughout the 2019-2020 season.