'Splitters visit Mossy Creek for SAC opener

VIDEO: Jean Love Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – With back-to-back victories in the team's back pocket, Carson-Newman prepares to open South Atlantic Conference play, hosting Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday afternoon at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex.

The Eagles (2-4, 0-0 SAC) defeated Bellarmine back on March 3 with an 8-1 victory, their largest margin of victory this season. C-N held a second-consecutive 2-1 advantage through doubles play before sweeping singles action with a straight-set total of 37-17 and 36-13. Marc Bantel (Urbach, Germany) picked up the lone shutout set win on the day with a 6-4, 6-0 win over Matthew Momper.

Top-seeded Gabriel Dabdab (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) broke a five-match singles losing skid with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over the Knight's Sam Rueff.

Bantel has been the primary man in the second spot this season, garnering a 3-3 record thus far. He is one of four Eagles entering the match on a two-match winning streak.

"For Dabdab, it's been a learning process," Love assessed. "He's competed well in all the matches. He's been close, sometimes it's been a point or two here or there if he wins it, you know, the outcome's a different story. The last few matches, though, it seems like he's settled in a little bit and has been able to capitalize at some of those crucial times."

The Railsplitters (5-3, 1-0 SAC) opened its conference schedule on Saturday with a substantial 8-1 victory over Catawba, giving LMU a two-match winning streak. The 'Splitters started the day with a doubles sweep and lost just one match in singles play as Moritz Hoerner fell 9-7 in the No. 5 spot.

Tenth-year head coach Benny Collins' team was picked to finish fourth in the SAC Preseason Coaches' Poll. This comes after LMU closed out its 2016-17 campaign with a 17-4 record, 9-2 in conference play. In postseason play, the 'Splitters defeated Tusculum 5-1 in the quarterfinals before falling to Wingate in the semifinals, 5-2.

Sophomore Xavier Marti earned an All-SAC First Team Singles nod while also being named to the All-SAC Doubles Second Team with Joshua Peress. This season, Marti has garnered a 3-4 duals record in singles play, standing at 3-1 at the No. 2 spot while failing to notch a win in three attempts at the top position.

Peress has spent a majority of the season as the top-seeded Railsplitter in duals with a 3-2 record at the position. When playing at the second spot, he has gone 3-0. On the doubles side, he has competed with David Segarra at the No. 1 and No. 2 spot for a team-leading 5-2 record, 8-3 overall with tournament play included.

The last time the two teams met, the Railsplitters came out victorious in a close 5-4 match on March 28, 2017.  The Eagles fell into a 2-1 deficit early on and put on steam to try to notch the comeback but were not able to do so.

Since 2010, LMU has never faced a loss against Carson-Newman as the Railsplitters have been undefeated in eight-consecutive meetings.

"For the guys, the last few years have kind of been tough although, once again, you know, we've competed well. We just haven't put it together at times," Love mentioned. "Everybody at every position has got to come ready to play and do their job and do what they do well. If we do that, there's no reason why we shouldn't be competitive and compete and there's no reason why we couldn't win this match."

The Eagles and 'Splitters are scheduled to begin play at 1:30 p.m. at the Buddy Catlett Tennis Complex. A full recap and results will be available on cneagles.com after the match.