Rock Hill, S.C.----The top-seeded and ninth-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs will be defending their SAC Tournament title this weekend after rolling to a 4-0 victory over fifth-seeded and 33rd-ranked Anderson University in the semifinals of the 2019 South Atlantic Conference men's tennis tournament at the Rock Hill Tennis Center. Wingate improves to 17-4 overall, advancing to the SAC title match for the third straight year and ninth time in 10 years. The Trojans fall to 13-8 on the season.

THOUGHTS FROM MICHAEL CABANA

"We are excited to have an opportunity to play for a tournament championship! I'm proud of the guys effort today and we will need to focus on recovering to get ready to play a tough Queens team."

DOUBLES

- The nation's sixth-ranked doubles team of Daniel Belsito and Josep Canyadell won 6-2 at one doubles
- The All-SAC duo of Enrico Giacomini and Roy Stepanov won by the same margin at two doubles
- Wingate took a 1-0 lead into singles play

SINGLES

- A first team All-SAC selection, Canyadell cruised to a 6-0, 6-2 win at three singles
- Second team All-SAC honoree Matthew Jones prevailed 6-4, 6-2 at two singles to put WU on top 3-0
- Belsito, ranked 32nd in the nation, downed the nation's 23rd-ranked player 7-5, 6-3 at one singles to clinch it
- Stepanov was up a set at number four singles when the 'Dogs clinched the match
- SAC Freshman of the Year Tolunay Sumer was down a set at five singles
- Giacomini had just gotten underway at six singles, leading in the first set

NOTES

- The 'Dogs improve to 17-2 against Division II opponents this season
- Wingate improves to 7-2 against ranked opponents this year
- The 'Dogs are looking to win both the SAC regular season and tourney title in the same season for the second straight year
- WU also won both championships in 2012, 2014 and 2015
- The Bulldogs were appearing in the SAC Tournament semifinals for the 13th straight season
- Wingate is looking for a fifth SAC Tournament title (all since 2012)
- The Bulldogs have won a total of 12 conference championships since the 2009 season
- Seventh straight victory over Anderson; WU has not lost to AU since the 2013 season
- Belsito and Canyadell improve to 13-2 in doubles play; Giacomini and Stepanov are 11-4
- Belsito moves to 48-9 in his singles career, all at one and two singles
- Jones improves to 14-6 on the season, playing every match at one and two singles
- Canyadell goes to 17-3 in singles play this season and 30-12 in his two-year career

UP NEXT

- Wingate is onto the SAC title match, scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. in Rock Hill
- The 'Dogs will face second-seeded and 19th-ranked Queens in the title match
- The two teams met in last year's championship match, with Wingate prevailing 5-2
- The Bulldogs defeated the Royals 4-3 earlier this season at Wingate
- WU is looking for a second straight tourney title and fourth in the last six years