LMU Wins 2010 Food Lion SAC Men’s Tennis Tournament Title With 5-3 Win Over Wingate

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Top seed Lincoln Memorial topped No. 2 Wingate University, 5-3 in the championship match of the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament.

Lincoln Memorial held the 2-1 advantage after doubles. Hannes Ganss and Bastian Guenther put the Railsplitters up with their 8-2 victory on court No. 2 over Fernando Montemurro and Greg Machado. Wingate evened the score on court No. 3 as Andrew Owen and Matthew Lichtenstein teamed up to defeat Zack Jones and Gabor Heredi-Szabo, 8-3. The final doubles match came down to court No. 1, where Philipp Hoffman and Tom Goossens outlasted Bruno Pudence and Flavio Rathsam in a tightly-contested set, winning 9-8 (7-5) to give the Railsplitters the one point advantage heading into singles.

Play was suspended as the teams started singles matches due to inclement weather on Saturday afternoon. Singles play recommenced the following afternoon on the Memorial Courts at the Winthrop Athletic Complex.

Lincoln Memorial's Philipp Hoffmann is presented the 2010 Food Lion SAC Men's Tennis Tournament Most Valuable Player award from Commissioner Patrick Britz.

Lincoln Memorial men's tennis coach Benny Collins is presented the automatic bid certificate to the 2010 NCAA Men's Tennis Championship from SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz.

2010 tournament MVP Hoffman put the Railsplitters one point closer to the title on singles court No. 2, with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Lichtenstein. Montemurro put the Bulldogs back to within one with a straight sets victory on court No. 6 over Goossens, 6-2, 6-2.

Guenther gave LMU their fourth point of the contest on court No. 3, defeating Owen, 6-2, 6-3, to put the Railsplitters up 4-2 with three matches to play. Patchell earned the win for the Bulldogs on court No. 4, defeating Heredi-Szabo, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) to put the match at 4-3.

Ganss clinched the match for the Railsplitters on court No. 1, defeating Pudence to seal the win for the Railsplitters, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.

LMU Head Coach Benny Collins had the following to say after the match, "The LMU men have set a mark that will be hard for any team to top. They have just refused to lose when it's been on the line." He went on to say, "Hannes Ganss came through again at a crucial time for his teammates as he has so many times in the past. To beat a team like Wingate in the finals, just is an accomplishment in itself."

The Bulldogs (14-5) now wait to see if the NCAA Regional Ranking Committee will grant them a berth in the upcoming NCAA Southeast Region Tournament, while the 2010 SAC Tournament Champion Railsplitters (19-1) receive the SAC Tournament's automatic bid. The NCAA regional tournament will be played May 6-8.

"I'm proud of my team and how we fought to the very end, leaving it all on the court," said Wingate Head Coach Michael Cabana. "We had a great season and we will work hard to get another opportunity. Congrats to LMU, they played great and I wish them luck at regionals."

No. 1 Lincoln Memorial 5, No. 2 Wingate University 3
Apr 24, 25, 2010 at Rock Hill, S.C. (Rock Hill Tennis Center, Winthrop University)

Singles competition
1. Hannes Ganss (LMU) def. Bruno Pudence (WIN) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2
2. Philipp Hoffmann (LMU) def. Matthew Lichtenstein (WIN) 6-2, 6-1
3. Bastian Guenther (LMU) def. Andrew Owen (WIN) 6-2, 6-3
4. Braeden Patchell (WIN) def. Gabor Heredi-Szabo (LMU) 6-1, 7-6 (7-5)
5. Andras Pauko (LMU) vs. Flavio Rathsam (WIN) 5-7, 1-4, unfinished
6. Fernando Montemurro (WIN) def. Tom Goossens (LMU) 6-2, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Philipp Hoffmann/Tom Goossens (LMU) def. Bruno Pudence/Flavio Rathsam (WIN) 9-8 (7-5)
2. Hannes Ganss/Bastian Guenther (LMU) def. Fernando Montemurro/Greg Machado (WIN) 8-2
3. Andrew Owen/Matthew Lichtenstein (WIN) def. Zack Jones/Gabor Heredi-Szabo (LMU) 8-3

Match Notes
No. 2 Wingate University 14-5
No. 1 Lincoln Memorial 19-1

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (,2,6,3,4,1)
2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament Championship
Play halted due to rain, will continue Sunday, April 25th, at noon
Railsplitters receive SAC's automatic bid to the 2010 NCAA Regional
Hannes Ganss clinches match on court No. 1