Rock Hill, S.C.----The second-seeded and 14th-ranked Wingate University Bulldogs will make yet another appearance in the SAC championship game after a 4-2 victory over third-seeded and 21st-ranked Queens University in the semifinals of the 2019 South Atlantic Conference women's tennis tournament at the Rock Hill Tennis Center. Wingate improves to 19-1 overall, advancing to the SAC title match for the fifth straight year and eighth time in nine years. The Royals fall to 14-4 on the season.

THOUGHTS FROM MICHAEL CABANA

"We played well today against a tough Queens team! We've given ourselves a chance to have a rematch against Tusculum. We will focus on getting prepared for that tomorrow."

DOUBLES

- The nation's 34th-ranked duo of Claudia De Andreis and Chyi Lee rolled to a 6-1 win at two doubles
- The nation's 38th-ranked doubles team of Michela Verpelli and Alisa Rudenko won 6-4 at one doubles
- Wingate took a 1-0 lead into singles play

SINGLES

- The nation's 57th-ranked player, Rudenko rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win at two singles
- Queens prevailed at three singles to get on the board, cutting Wingate's lead to 2-1
- Verpelli, ranked 24th nationally, knocked off the 58th-ranked player 6-2, 7-6 to make it 3-1
- Lee won the first set 6-4 at four singles, but dropped the next two sets 6-2, 6-2 as Queens made it 3-2
- De Andreis won the clincher at five singles, prevailing 7-6, 6-3 to send WU to the title match
- Camilla Ciaccia was tied 5-5 in the first set when the 'Dogs clinched the match

NOTES

- Wingate moves to 4-1 against ranked opponents this season
- The Bulldogs are the top-ranked team in the NCAA Southeast region poll
- WU avenges a 5-3 loss against Queens in the 2018 SAC title match; also lost to QU in the '16 title match
- The 'Dogs are appearing in their fifth straight SAC title match and eighth in nine years
- The Bulldogs will look to snap a three-match losing streak in the SAC championship match
- Wingate has four SAC tournament titles all-time; all since 2011
- The 'Dogs won three straight tourney titles from 2011-2013
- WU has piled up 12 total conference championships since the 2011 season
- Wingate was making its 11th straight appearance in the SAC Tournament semifinals
- The Bulldogs are looking for their first SAC Tournament championships since 2015
- Ranked 38th in the nation, Verpelli and Rudenko move to 12-4 at number one doubles
- The 34th-ranked duo of De Andreis and Lee move to 12-3 on the season
- Verpelli improves to 14-1 at one singles this year and 32-3 in her career
- Rudenko goes to 13-3 in singles play in her first year at Wingate 
- De Andreis is a perfect 13-0 in singles play this year; she now has 50 career singles victories

UP NEXT

- Wingate is onto the SAC title match, scheduled for Friday at noon in Rock Hill
- The 'Dogs will face top-seeded and 17th-ranked Tusculum in the championship match
- The Pioneers ended Wingate's historic 76-match SAC winning streak this season