COLUMBUS, Ga.– Lixin Wang overcame a 6-0 loss in the second set with a 6-2 win in the third as No. 18 (Oracle/ITA Division II) Flagler College edged No. 16 Tusculum University 4-3 in a preliminary round match of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Monday afternoon at the Walden Tennis Complex.

Flagler improved to 17-6 and the Saints won their first opening round match since May 1, 2017. Tusculum concluded its season with a 17-4 record.

"We were a little nervous during doubles," said head women's tennis coach Rodrigo Puebla, "but we were able to settle in and play our game in singles.

"Lixin was huge on the deciding point. This is the first time this year that we had a 4-3 match. I am so happy they were able to battle and come together as a team."

The day didn't start out well for the Saints as the Pioneers won two doubles matches to wrap up the first team points, but Flagler was able to roll in singles play.

Anika Nissen raised her record at No. 3 to 11-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Emilie Hansen. That tied the match at 1-point apiece. But a pair of wins by Flagler wiped out a 2-1 Tusculum lead. Alessandra Traub improved to 15-5 with her in at No. 5 singles (6-2 and 6-4), and No. 65 Eden Schlagenhauf gave Flagler a 3-2 lead with her 6-3, 7-5 win over Caitlin McCullough.

Tusculum squared the match at 3-all with a three-set win at No. 6, but it was Wang winning her eighth straight match that gave Flagler the win.
 
Flagler takes on Columbus State University on Tuesday 1 p.m. at the Walden Tennis Center as both teams will vie for the right to go to Altamonte Springs, (Fla.) for the Round of 16.

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