Lincoln Memorial Captures Food Lion SAC Women’s Tennis Championship

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The No. 1 seed Lincoln Memorial University women's tennis team captured its first ever South Atlantic Conference Tournament title Saturday afternoon when the Lady Railsplitters defeated cross-state rival and No. 2 seed Tusculum College 5-3 in the finals of the 2010 Food Lion SAC Women's Tennis Tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Although Saturday's win marks the program's first SAC title in women's tennis, it is the second time this season the LMU women have emerged victorious over the Pioneers. During the regular season, Lincoln Memorial University and Tusculum College met in Harrogate, with the Lady Railsplitters taking a 5-4 win that eventually allowed them to share the regular season title with the Pioneers and to secure the No. 1 seed in this year's tournament.

Lincoln Memorial's Leah Donoff was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Lincoln Memorial coach Benny Collins receives the Automatic Bid certificate to the NCAA Division II Women's Tennis Championship.

"Our women came through as they have all year," said Lincoln Memorial University Head Coach Benny Collins. "Plainly, this victory was earned with hard work and by staying focused. Throughout the tournament, our team has refused to lose. They beat a good team today and I couldn't be more proud of them."

LMU got Saturday's championship match started with a win in No. 1 doubles when Sofia Lopez Mimendi and Ann-Sophie Indeherberge defeated Tusculum's Katelyn Doss and Caroline Crowe 8-2. A short time later, the Pioneers evened the match when Taylor Patterson and Courtney Conley of Tusculum upended LMU's Amanda Horenkamp and Mandy Mills at the No. 2 position 8-3. LMU was able to regain the upper hand at No. 3 doubles when Leah Donoff and Melanie Smith captured an 8-3 win over Blake Thompson and Megan Buckmaster.

In singles play, Tournament MVP Lean Donoff won in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 at the No. 1 position to put LMU a point closer to the title. Teammate Sofia Lopez Mimendi then won at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-1 to put the Lady Railsplitters a point away from the crown with a 4-1 margin.

Tusculum kept the dream alive at No. 6 singles when Megan Buckmaster defeated LMU's Morgan Taylor 6-4, 6-2 to close the match to 4-2 LMU. A short time later however, Lady Railsplitter Ann-Sophie Indeherberge defeated Tusculum's Taylor Patterson 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3 singles to seal the deal and to give the LMU women the 2010 South Atlantic Conference Championship.

The Pioneers (17-4) 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 Lady Railsplitters (18-3) receive the SAC Tournament's automatic bid and will use the next several days to focus on final exams and to prepare for their NCAA tournament appearance since the 2006 season. The NCAA regional tournament will be played May 6-8.

No. 1 Lincoln Memorial 5, No. 2 Tusculum 3
Apr 24, 2010 at Rock Hill, SC

Singles competition
1. Leah Donoff (LMU) def. Katelyn Doss (TC) 6-1, 6-2
2. Sofia Lopez Mimendi (LMU) def. Courtney Conley (TC) 6-1, 6-1
3. Ann-Sophie Indeherberge (LMU) def. Taylor Patterson (TC) 6-4, 6-3
4. Caroline Crowe (TC) def. Mandy Mills (LMU) 6-1, 6-3
5. Melanie Smith (LMU) vs. Blake Thompson (TC) 6-4, 2-4, unfinished
6. Megan Buckmaster (TC) def. Morgan Taylor (LMU) 6-4, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Sofia Lopez Mimendi/Ann-Sophie Indeherberge (LMU) def. Katelyn Doss/Caroline Crowe (TC) 8-2
2. Taylor Patterson/Courtney Conley (TC) def. Amanda Horenkamp/Mandy Mills (LMU) 8-3
3. Leah Donoff/Melanie Smith (LMU) def. Blake Thompson/Megan Buckmaster (TC) 8-3

Match Notes:
Tusculum 17-4
Lincoln Memorial 18-3; Regional ranking #10
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (,1,2,6,4,3)
2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament Championship
LMU earns the conference's automatic bid the NCAA Tournament.
This is LMU's first-ever SAC Tennis Tournament Championship.
T-2:54 A-100