April 19, 2008

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Bronwyn Hartley accounted for a pair of points, including the match-winner as No. 2 seed Tusculum defeated top-seed Carson-Newman 5-1 to win the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Tournament title. The semifinal and final were held at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.

Tusculum (20-3) wins its ninth straight match, while capturing its second SAC Tournament title in school history. With the win, the Pioneers (No. 35 in NCAA Division II) also punch their ticket for next month's NCAA Tournament, earning the league's automatic bid. For the Lady Eagles (12-2), they now await word of a possible at-large bid for the NCAA postseason.

Tusculum jumped out to a 3-0 advantage after sweeping doubles. Hartley (Beamsville, Ontario, Canada) and No. 3 doubles partner Blake Thompson recorded the first point of the match with an 8-2 win over Emily Sorah (Bristol, Tenn.) and Stephanie Douglas (Knoxville, Tenn.).

At No. 1 doubles, Caroline Crowe (Johnson City, Tenn.) and Katelyn Doss (Bristol, Va.) posted an 8-3 victory against the C-N duo of Taryn Cappadonna (Kennesaw, Ga.) and SAC co-Player of the Year Amanda Bartlett (Power Springs, Ga.).

TC completed the sweep as Jennifer Sparks (Missouri City, Texas) and Amanda Pike (Elizabethton, Tenn.) rallied from an early deficit to edge Cassie Moulton (Maryville, Tenn.) and Elizabeth Sneed (Kingsport, Tenn.) 8-6 at No. 3 doubles.

Tusculum carried the momentum into singles action as Doss posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Sorah at No. 4 singles as TC led 4-0. Sneed cut into the deficit with her straight set (6-3, 6-3) triumph against Pike at the third flight.

At the No. 2 singles, Hartley moved out to an early 4-1 lead, but Cappadonna, the SAC Freshman of the Year, fought back to within one. Hartley held on and won the f irst set 7-5, before clinching the point and the match with her 6-2 win in the final frame.

For her efforts, Hartley was named to 2008 Food Lion SAC Most Valuable Player.

Tusculum ties a school record, posting its 20th win of the season.

Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Tournament Championship
Rock Hill Tennis Center ? Rock Hill, South Carolina

No. 2 Tusculum 5, No. 1 Carson-Newman 1 (Final)

Singles

1 - Amanda Bartlett (CN) vs. Jennifer Sparks (TC), DNF
2 - Bronwyn Hartley (TC) def. Taryn Cappadonna (CN), 7-5, 6-2
3 - Elizabeth Sneed (CN) def. Amanda Pike (TC), 6-3, 6-3
4 - Katelyn Doss (TC) def. Emily Sorah (CN), 6-2, 6-1
5 - Cassie Moulton (CN) vs. Blake Thompson (TC), DNF
6 - Stephanie Douglas (CN) vs. Heidi von der Lage (TC), DNF

Doubles

1 - Caroline Crowe/Doss (TC) def. Bartlett/Cappadonna (CN), 8-3
2 - Pike/Sparks (TC) def. Moulton/Sneed (CN), 8-6
3 - Hartley/Thompson (TC) def. Sorah/Douglas (CN), 8-2

-THE SAC-