COLUMBIA, S.C.– No. 36 Queens University of Charlotte avenged a regular season loss and secured a 5-2 upset of No. 16 Tusculum College on Friday afternoon in the South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Championship Semifinals at the Cayce Tennis Center.
 
The Royals, seeded third overall in the tournament, won all three doubles points over the second-seeded Pioneers, starting with an 8-5 win at No. 3 by the team of junior Hannah Lehfeldt and senior Caroline Nielsen.
 
Sophomore Isabel Fornies and senior Carlotta Nassi combined for an 8-6 win at No. 2 to remain a perfect 16-0 on the season, followed by an 8-7 (7-6) win in a tiebreaker at No. 1 from the freshman duo of Sasha Davidzenka and Yana Fleyer. The two freshman secured their sixth straight win, defeating the McCullough sisters of Tusculum who are the 30th-ranked duo in NCAA Division II.

"Our girls were really dialed in today. We played a complete match and it started with fearless doubles play," said Head Coach Billy Boykin. "Caroline Nielsen and Hannah Lehfeldt gave us an early lift by posting a quick point on the scoreboard. Our number one and number two doubles teams put us up by three points with all-around remarkable play in the big moments."
 
In singles play, Fornies opened with a 6-4, 6-3 win to put Queens one point away from ending the match, however, Tusculum picked up wins at No. 1 and No. 4 to put pressure on the Royals.
 
Fleyer claimed her 16th win of the season and improved on her unblemished record with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Tusculum's Franziska Funke, ranked No. 74 among all Division II singles players.

"Isabel Fornies put up the fourth point and SAC Freshman of the Year Yana Fleyer closed it out for us," Boykin continued."I am really proud of these ladies. They are so tough mentally."
 
Queens will look to secure its second SAC Championships title in the last three years tomorrow when it takes on top seed and 12th-ranked Wingate University at 9 a.m.
 
#36 Queens University of Charlotte 5, #16 Tusculum College 2
 
Singles competition
1. #68 Katarina Majorova (TC) def. #53 Carlotta Nassi (QUWTN) 6-2, 6-3
2. Yana Fleyer (QUWTN) def. #74 Franziska Funke (TC) 6-2, 6-4
3. Annie McCullough (TC) vs. Sasha Davidzenka (QUWTN) 6-7, 3-5, unfinished
4. Caitlin McCullough (TC) def. Caroline Nielsen (QUWTN) 6-1, 6-2
5. Isabel Fornies (QUWTN) def. Angelica DeVincenzis (TC) 6-4, 6-3
6. Africa Mota (TC) vs. Ana Bolson (QUWTN) 5-7, 6-1Yana Fleyernished
 
Doubles competition
1. Yana Fleyer/Sasha Davidzenka (QUWTN) def. #30 Annie McCullough/Caitlin McCullough (TC) 8-7 (7-6)
2. Carlotta Nassi/Isabel Fornies (QUWTN) def. Franziska Funke/Katarina Majorova (TC) 8-6
3. Caroline Nielsen/Hannah Lehfeldt (QUWTN) def. Amber Lackey/Africa Mota (TC) 8-5
 
Match Notes:
Queens University of Charlotte 15-3; National ranking #36; Regional ranking #7
Tusculum College 20-2; National ranking #16; Regional ranking #3
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (5,1,4,2)
2018 South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Championship