Mars Hill, N.C.----Wingate University junior Fernando Montemurro (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and sophomore Andrew Owen (Kitchener, Ontario) won two matches each as the Bulldogs earned a 6-3 South Atlantic Conference men’s tennis victory over Mars Hill College Saturday at the Hart Tennis Complex.

The Bulldogs are 11-3 overall and 6-1 in the SAC. The MHC Lions are 3-6 overall and 2-1 in the SAC. Wingate defeated Mars Hill 7-2 last season at Wingate, clinching its first SAC regular season men’s tennis championship in the process. 

Montemurro teamed with sophomore Greg Machado (Sao Paulo, Brazil) to defeat Mars Hill juniors Alessandro du Besse (Rome, Italy) and Steven Stankovic (Herceg Novi, Montenegro) 8-6 at the number two doubles flight. Later in the day, Montemurro defeated MHC junior Bradley Bassinger (Granite Falls, N.C.) 6-1, 6-4 at the number six singles position.

Owen had an equally good day, pairing with sophomore Matthew Lichtenstein (Darnestown, Md.) to earn an 8-3 victory at the number three doubles flight. In singles, Owen earned a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 triumph over Lion freshman Lucas Simm (Curitiba, Brazil) at the number three spot.

Wingate sophomore Flavio Rathsam (Sao Paulo, Brazil) posted his 24th consecutive singles match victory Saturday, as he defeated Mars Hill junior Carlos Oyaga (Caracas, Venezuela) 6-1, 6-4 in the number five singles match. For his two-year Wingate career, Rathsam is 26-1 overall in singles. He is 13-0 during the 2010 season.

The Bulldogs return home Thursday, as they entertain Newberry College for a 2:30 p.m. SAC match. Mars Hill visits nearby SAC rival Tusculum College Tuesday for a 2 p.m. contest.

SOUTH ATLANTIC CONFERENCE MEN’S TENNIS MATCH RESULTS
WINGATE 6, MARS HILL 3 (at Mars Hill, N.C.)

Singles
#1 Alessandro du Besse (MHC) def. Bruno Pudence (WIN) 6-4, 6-4
#2 Koeche Smith (MHC) def. Matthew Lichtenstein (WIN) 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-3
#3 Andrew Owen (WIN) def. Lucas Simm (MHC) 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
#4 Braeden Patchell (WIN) def. Steven Stankovic (MHC) 6-4, 6-1
#5 Flavio Rathsam (WIN) def. Carlos Oyaga (MHC) 6-1, 6-4
#6 Fernando Montemurro (WIN) def. Bradley Bassinger (MHC) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles
#1 Smith/Simm (MHC) def. Pudence/Rathsam (WIN) 8-4
#2 Montemurro/Greg Machado (WIN) def. du Besse/Stankovic (MHC) 8-6
#3 Lichtenstein/Owen (WIN) def. Oyaga/Bassinger (MHC) 8-3
RECORDS: Wingate 11-3 overall (6-1 SAC); Mars Hill 3-6 overall (2-1 SAC)