Wingate Bulldogs Bring Home 2019 SAC Women's Tennis Championship

Rock Hill, S.C.----In a match that started at noon and ended just before midnight, the second-seeded and 14th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs defeated the top-seeded and 17th-ranked Tusculum University Pioneers 4-2 in the championship match of the 2019 South Atlantic Conference women's tennis tournament. Wingate improves to 20-1 overall, while the Pioneers fall to 17-3 on the season.

Michela Verpelli was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship, after going undefeated, 6-0, during championship play at No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles. 

DOUBLES

- The nation's 34th-ranked duo of Claudia De Andreis and Chyi Lee won 6-3 at two doubles
- The 38th-ranked team of Michela Verpelli and Alisa Rudenko led 5-4 at one doubles and were serving with the game at deuce when the rain started
- The rain delay hit at 1:30 with the 'Dogs a point away from winning the doubles point
- The match resumed a little after 8:30 p.m.
- Rudenko and Verpelli won the first point after the delay to win 6-4 and claim the doubles point
- Wingate took a 1-0 lead into singles play

SINGLES

- The nation's 57th-ranked player, Rudenko rolled to a 6-3, 6-3 win at two singles
- Tusculum won at three singles to get on the board, cutting Wingate's lead to 2-1
- Verpelli, ranked 24th nationally, knocked off the 2019 SAC Player of the Year 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 at one singles to make it 3-1
- The Pioneers picked up the victory at four singles to make it 3-2
- The senior De Andreis won the clincher at five singles, prevailing 6-4, 7-5 to give WU the title
- Camilla Ciaccia was up a set at six singles when the 'Dogs clinched the championship