Rock Hill, S.C.----Three players won two matches each as the number 49 Wingate University women’s tennis team defeated Newberry 5-1 in the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament semi-finals Friday at the Rock Hill Tennis Center. Wingate (18-5 overall) has won 11 matches in a row entering a 3 p.m. Saturday championship match against either Anderson (S.C.) or Tusculum. Newberry concludes the 2013 season 13-12 overall.

“We were focused and ready to go this morning,” Wingate head women’s tennis coach Michael Cabana says. “Thanks to our preparation and focus, we were able to get off to a quick start. We look forward to an exciting final.”

Wingate led 2-1 Friday when play was suspended. Bulldog sophomore Tiffany Williams (Cary, N.C.) and freshman Caroline Holland (Spartanburg, S.C.) got things started with an 8-1 victory at number three doubles. Junior Morgan Winston (Lawrenceville, Ga.) and senior Kelli Ferguson (Concord, N.C.) made the score 2-0 Bulldogs when they collected an 8-4 triumph at the number two doubles flight.
 
Williams, Winston and Ferguson (in order) won singles matches to give Wingate the semi-final victory. Ferguson won the deciding contest, taking a 6-2, 6-3 decision over NC junior Shannon McManus (Charleston, S.C.) at the number five singles flight. Winston blanked junior Marina Ziehe (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) 6-0, 6-0 at the number three spot, while Williams lost only one game against freshman Tara Lamers (Maastricht, The Netherlands) at the number four position.
 
The Bulldogs have won the last two Food Lion SAC tournaments. Wingate defeated Anderson (S.C.) 5-1 in the 2012 title tilt. In 2011, the Bulldogs edged the Trojans 5-4 in the SAC semi-finals. Wingate has won three consecutive SAC regular season championships.