Rock Hill, S.C.----The Wingate University women’s tennis team notched its first ever Food Lion SAC tournament title in convincing fashion, notching a 5-0 victory over Mars Hill College in the championship match Saturday evening. The Bulldogs win their 19th consecutive match, improving to 21-1. Wingate did not drop a match to a SAC opponent in the 2011 season. Mars Hill falls to 11-6 on the season.

The ‘Dogs won all three doubles matches in dominant fashion. Freshmen Morgan Winston (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and Olivia Poole (Boca Raton, Fla.) notched the first win of the day, an 8-2 victory in number three doubles. Sophomore Kelli Ferguson (Concord, N.C.) and senior Kara Stasikelis (Greenville, S.C.) won 8-4 in number one doubles, while an 8-3 win for freshman Ali Evers (Roswell, Ga.) and junior Samantha Alschlager (Indian Trail, N.C.) in number two doubles put Wingate on top 3-0.

Ferguson notched a 6-3, 6-3 win in number five singles to give Wingate a 4-0 lead. Evers clinched the victory in number two singles, collecting a 6-1, 7-6 victory to give the ‘Dogs the title.

Wingate receives the conference’s automatic bid for the 2011 NCAA Southeast Regionals.