Anderson, Brevard Advance In Food Lion SAC Women’s Tennis Tournament

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Led by singles victories on courts No. 1 and No. 3, the No. 5 seed Anderson University Trojans defeated the No. 4 seed Lincoln Memorial Railsplitters, 5-2, to advance to the semifinals of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.

Lincoln Memorial got on the board first as Leah Donoff and Sofia Lopez Mimendi topped Camie Beaulieu-Brunet and Emily Weiland on court No. 1, winning 8-4.

However, Anderson rallied back to hold the 2-1 advantage after doubles play as Avery Owens and Lauren Trumbull topped Aura Penalosa and Morgan Taylor on court No. 2, 8-3, and Shelby Anderson and Julie Halbert put Anderson ahead with their 8-6 victory on court No. 3 over Alexandra Granger and Melanie Smith.

Anderson's Camie Beaulieu-Brune returns a shot against LMU's Leah Donoff in their No. 1 singles match.

Halbert struck first again in singles action, giving Anderson the 3-1 lead with her 7-5, 6-0 victory on court No. 3 over Granger and Beaulieu-Brunet topped Donoff on court No. 1, 6-2, 6-1 to put the Trojans within one match of moving into the semifinals.

Mimendi kept Lincoln Memorial in the match, winning on court No. 2 6-1, 6-2 over Owens, but Anderson clinched the match on court No. 5, defeating Smith in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 to advance the Trojans to the semifinals.

"This was actually the best match the girls have played all year," said Anderson Head Coach Joey Eskridge. "Our no. 1 and no. 3 did their jobs when we needed it and we look forward to taking on Wingate."

The Trojans and the top seed Bulldogs will faceoff Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.

Singles competition
1. Camie Beaulieu-Brune (AUW) def. Leah Donoff (LMU) 6-2, 6-1
2. Sofia Lopez Mimendi (LMU) def. Avery Owens (AUW) 6-1, 6-2
3. Julie Halbert (AUW) def. Alexandra Granger (LMU) 7-5, 6-0
4. Lauren Trumbull (AUW) def. Aura Penalosa (LMU) 7-6, unfinished
5. Shelby Anderson (AUW) def. Melanie Smith (LMU) 6-3, 6-4
6. Emily Weiland (AUW) def. Morgan Taylor (LMU) 6-1, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Leah Donoff/Sofia Lopez Mimendi (LMU) def. Camie Beaulieu-Brune/Emily Weiland (AUW) 8-4
2. Avery Owens/Lauren Trumbull (AUW) def. Aura Penalosa/Morgan Taylor (LMU) 8-3
3. Shelby Anderson/Julie Halbert (AUW) def. Alexandra Granger/Melanie Smith (LMU) 8-6

Match Notes
#5 Anderson 12-7; Regional ranking #12
#4 Lincoln Memorial 13-5; Regional ranking #11
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (3,1,2,5)
Quarterfinal round of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament
#5 Anderson moves to take on #1 Wingate in the SAC Semifinals Thursday at 1 p.m.

Brevard 5, Tusculum 1

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- The No. 3 seed Brevard College women's tennis team defeated the No. 6 Tusculum College Pioneers 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon at the Rock Hill Tennis Center, as the Tornados advanced to the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference semifinals.

Claire Dillman and Michelle Prata struck first for the Tornados on court No. 2, topping Katie Hillis and Kristen Keefer, 8-2 for the first point of the match. Lindsay Shaeffer and Lindsay Hostetter put Brevard up 2-0 after a hard-fought 8-6 victory on court No. 1 by Courtney Conley and Taylor Patterson.

Blake Thompson and Megan Buckmaster put the Pioneers on the board on court No. 3, downing Elise Labus and Jennifer Nyman 9-7 to send the score to 2-1 heading into singles action.

Dillman recorded the first point of singles play for the Tornados on court No. 3 as the 2011 All-SAC Second Teamer defeated Buckmaster in straight sets 6-2, 6-0. Prata finished shortly after on court No. 4, defeating Keefer 6-4, 6-2 to put the Tornados within one match of advancing to the SAC semifinals.

With matches on courts No. 2 and No. 5 heading into the third set and court No. 6 about to start play, Shaeffer took the final point of the match on court No. 1, halting play as she clinched the win for the Tornados with her 6-2, 6-2 victory over Conley.

"Tusculum came ready for the match and played very well and we rose to the occasion," said Brevard head coach Nicole Bumgarner. "It was a big win for Brevard today and very appropriate for our senior (Shaeffer) to clinch the match after the way she played today."

Brevard advances to their third consecutive Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament semifinals since joining the SAC in 2008 and will take on No. 2 seed Mars Hill College at the Rock Hill Tennis Complex Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Singles competition
1. Lindsay Shaeffer (BCW) def. Courtney Conley (TCW) 6-2, 6-2
2. Lindsay Hostetter (BCW) vs. Taylor Patterson (TCW) 6-2, 5-6, unfinished
3. Claire Dillman (BCW) def. Megan Buckmaster (TCW) 6-2, 6-0
4. Michelle Prata (BCW) def. Kristen Keefer (TCW) 6-4, 6-2
5. Jennifer Nyman (BCW) vs. Blake Thomspon (TCW) 3-6, 6-3, unfinished
6. Elise Labus (BCW) vs. Katie Hillis (TCW) unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Lindsay Hostetter/Lindsay Shaeffer (BCW) def. Courtney Conley/Taylor Patterson (TCW) 8-6
2. Claire Dillman/Michelle Prata (BCW) def. Katie Hillis/Kristen Keefer (TCW) 8-2
3. Blake Thomspon/Megan Buckmaster (TCW) def. Elise Labus/Jennifer Nyman (BCW) 9-7

Match Notes
#6 Tusculum 11-9
#3 Brevard 15-7
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (3,4,1)
Quarterfinal round of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament
Brevard advances to face #2 Mars Hill Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m.