ROCK HILL, S.C. – No. 2-seed Queens University of Charlotte fell by the final of 5-1 to third-seeded Tusculum College in the semifinals of the 2017 South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Championships on Friday, April 21 at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.
The Royals (12-4) will not be able to defend its 2016 SAC Tournament Championship as Tusculum (19-4) avenged an earlier season loss. QU had previously defeated the Pioneers 7-2 back on April 1 at Freedom Park.
Queens' chance to advance to the championship match took a hit early as they dropped all three doubles points to Tusculum.
While all of the doubles matches were all relatively close, the Royals had a real chance to take point at the No. 2 contest as the tandem of
Hannah Lehfeldt and
Claire Hamilton took Annie McCullough and Jule Brass to tiebreakers. Unfortunately, the Pioneers duo grabbed the point as they prevailed, 9-8 (7-1).
TC then really put the Royals backs to the wall as the Pioneers' Annie McCullough won the No. 3 singles match, 6-3, 6-1, over
Melissa Laing.
Caroline Nielsen finally got QU on the positive side of the ledger when she defeated Africa Mota, 7-5, 6-4, in the fourth flight.
Queens then had the lead in the No. 1 and No. 6 match and had the fifth flight in a third set, but Tusculum was able to close out the match with a narrow victory in the second position. It was there that Franziska Funke was able to hold on against a hard-charging
Marta Gonzalez, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
The Royals will now await to see if they have done enough to earn a bid to the NCAA Postseason.
Doubles
1. Franziska Funke/Katarina Majorova (TC) def.
Carlotta Nassi/
Marta Gonzalez (QU) 8-5
2. Annie McCullough/Jule Brass (TC) def.
Hannah Lehfeldt/
Claire Hamilton (QU) 9-8 (7-1)
3. Brittani Brooks/Amber Lackey (TC) def.
Ana Bolson/
Jaclyn Rock (QU) 8-4
Singles
1.
Carlotta Nassi (QUWTN) vs. Katarina Majorova (TCW) 4-6, 6-3, 2-0, unfinished
2. Franziska Funke (TCW) def.
Marta Gonzalez (QUWTN) 6-4, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Annie McCullough (TCW) def.
Melissa Laing (QUWTN) 6-3, 6-1
4.
Caroline Nielsen (QUWTN) def. Africa Mota (TCW) 7-5, 6-4
5.
Hannah Lehfeldt (QUWTN) vs. Brittani Brooks (TCW) 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 2-3, unfinished
6.
Isabel Fornies (QUWTN) vs. Jule Brass (TCW) 6-0, 1-0, unfinished
