Pioneers upset Bulldogs 5-4 in SAC semi-finals
4/24/2009
Rock Hill, S.C.----The Tusculum College men's tennis team captured possibly its biggest win of the season Friday afternoon when the Pioneers won a grueling battle with Wingate University 5-4 in the semi-finals of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.
After sweeping doubles play, the number five seed Pioneers needed to win two of the six singles matches to come away with victory. The number one seed Wingate side (SAC regular season champions) didn't go down without a fight. In fact, the decision of who would advance to the tournament finals came down to the no. 5 singles match as TC's Steven Lin defeated Wingate's Matthew Lichtenstein 2-6, 6-1, 7-5. Tusculum's other win in singles play came at no. 2 singles where the Pioneers' Thomas Rees knocked off the Bulldogs' Bruno Pudence 6-7, 7-5, 6-2.
Wingate's Mitchell Lvovsky took a narrow 6-1, 7-6, (7-4) win at no. 1 singles, while teammate Braeden Patchell won 6-4, 6-4 over Tusculum's Hunter Beal in no. 3 singles, as did the Bulldog's Andrew Owen when he defeated the Pioneer's Leo Guaycurus 6-4, 6-4. in the no. 4 singles match. No. 6 singles went a little quicker when Wingate's Flavio Rathsam knocked off TC's Drew Kiser in straight sets 6-0, 6-1.
As mentioned, doubles play was the key to the Pioneers’ win and was dominated by Tusculum. The Pioneers Thomas Rees and Drew Kiser made quick work of Wingate's Braeden Patchell and Louis Vallarroel 8-2, while Leo Guaycurus and Henrique Rodrigues defeated Bruno Pudence and Flavio Rathsam 8-3 and Hunter Beal and Steven Lin disposed of Matthew Lichtenstein and Jose Valarezo 8-5.
The number five seed Pioneers are now set to take on nearby rival and number three seed Mars Hill College on Saturday in the Championship of the 2009 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament. The Lions defeated no. 2 seed Newberry College 5-3 Friday morning to advance to Saturday's conference tournament finals at 9 a.m. at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.