Tusculum Wins 2017 South Atlantic Conference Women’s Tennis Tournament Championship
#3 TUSCULUM 5, #1 WINGATE 4
Rock Hill, S.C.----The 2017 South Atlantic Conference women's tennis championship match came down to a third-set tiebreaker, which No. 39 Tusculum College won to edge top-seeded and 33rd-ranked Wingate University 5-4 Saturday afternoon. Tusculum improves to 20-7 overall, while the Bulldogs fall to 17-4 on the season.
Tusculum took a 2-1 lead in doubles play, picking up tight 8-6 and 9-7 decisions at one and two doubles. Senior Layla Tanik (Raleigh, N.C.) teamed with sophomore Claudia De Andreis (Milan, Italy) for an 8-4 victory at three doubles.
Tanik won 6-3, 6-1 at number five singles to tie the match, while De Andreis prevailed 6-3, 6-3 at number one singles to give Wingate a 3-2 lead. Tusculum won at two singles to tie the match, but sophomore Sydney Homan (Huntsville, Ala.) prevailed 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 at six singles to put the 'Dogs on top 4-3. The Pioneers won in three sets at three and four singles, with the match coming down to a third-set tiebreaker at number four singles.