Rock Hill, S.C.----The number 34 Wingate University men's tennis team advances to the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament championship match for the fifth consecutive year, thanks to a 5-1 victory over Queens University of Charlotte in Thursday's semi-finals. The top-seeded Bulldogs are 17-7 overall, while the Royals conclude the 2014 season 13-6 overall.
 
Wingate sophomore Sebastian Hall (Lörrach, Germany) and freshman Filippo Pezzoli (Milan, Italy) won two matches each for the victorious Bulldogs. Hall and junior Neal Towlson (Warwick, Bermuda) gave the 'Dogs a 1-0 lead with an 8-5 triumph at the number one doubles flight. Pezzoli and classmate Tyler Schofer (Graham, N.C.) made the score 2-1 Wingate with an 8-5 decision at the number three doubles spot.
 
Pezzoli nudged Wingate's lead to 3-1 with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Queens senior Ignacio Casali (Farmingdale, N.Y.) at the number three singles position. Hall earned the fourth team point with his 6-2, 6-2 win over Royals freshman Jules Athalis (Bourges, France) in the number two singles match.
 
Bulldog freshman Connor Kudrick (Spring, Texas) sealed the deal, delivering a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Queens senior Andre Bafume (Sao Paulo, Brazil) at the number four singles flight. Kudrick is 22-0 overall in dual match singles competition this season.
 
Queens picked up its point at the number two doubles flight. Bafume paired with sophomore Ole-Jacob Meum (Stabekk, Norway) to defeat Kudrick and WU senior Ryan Forbes (Charlotte, N.C.) 8-6. The Royals held the lead in the two unfinished matches. The number six match had not begun when Wingate earned its fifth point.
 
Wingate will face the winner of the Tusculum-Coker match in the Food Lion SAC tournament championship match. The first serve is slated for 12 noon Friday.