Cayce, S.C.----The top-seeded and 12th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs defeated fourth-seeded and 39th-ranked Newberry College 5-1 Friday morning in the semifinals of the 2018 South Atlantic Conference women's tennis tournament. Wingate improves to 20-3 overall, advancing to the SAC title match for the fourth straight season and eighth time in the last nine years. Newberry falls to 21-6 on the season.  

Wingate went 2-1 in doubles play, getting an 8-4 victory at two doubles from juniors Claudia De Andreis (Milan, Italy) and Sydney Homan (Huntsville, Ala.). Senior Oroma Womeodu (Memphis, Tenn.) and freshman Chyi Lee (Taipei, Taiwan) rolled to an 8-2 win at three doubles to give the 'Dogs a 2-1 lead heading to singles play.

SAC Player of the Year Michela Verpelli (Milan, Italy) won 6-4, 6-0 at number one singles, while Womeodu's second victory of the day came at four singles, cruising to a 6-1, 6-0 win. Sophomore Marisa Ostoja (Split, Croatia) capped the day with a 6-1, 6-1 victory at number five singles. De Andreis led 6-4, 3-0 at two singles when the match was clinched. Lee won the first set 6-3 at three singles, while Homan was up 6-3, 4-0 at six singles.

Wingate is onto the SAC championship match Saturday at 9 a.m. in South Carolina. The Bulldogs will face third-seeded Queens, who knocked off second-seeded and 16th-ranked Tusculum 5-2 Friday morning. The Bulldogs downed the Royals 5-4 in Charlotte earlier this season. Wingate is looking for its fifth SAC Tournament championship since 2011.