COLUMBIA, S.C.– The 36th-ranked Queens University of Charlotte women's tennis team pulled off its second upset in as many days, defeating No. 12 Wingate University 5-3 to claim the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Championship at the Cayce Tennis Center.
 
The title is Queens' second in the last three years and earns the team an automatic bid to the NCAA Southeast Regionals, the Royals' third such postseason appearance in the last five years.
 
The Royals, seeded third overall in the tournament, took an early 2-1 lead following the conclusion of doubles play as senior Caroline Nielsen and Hannah Lehfeldt put Queens on the board first with an 8-1 win in the third flight.

Senior Carlotta Nassi and sophomore Isabel Fornies improved to a perfect 17-0 on the year with an 8-2 win at No. 2 to extend Queens' lead.
 
Top-seeded Wingate quickly tied the match score with a win at No. 6 singles before going up by a point with a win in the No. 1 position. The Royals evened the score at three-all with a 6-3, 7-5 win at No. 2 Yana Fleyer, the SAC Freshman of the Year. Fleyer's singles record remains unblemished at 17-0 with the victory.
 
Freshman Sasha Davidzenka used three sets to earn a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 win at No. 3 to put Queens ahead before Nielsen sealed the deal with a three-set win of her own at No. 4. The Brussels, Belgium native won 6-2 in the first set before falling by the same score in set two, however, Nielsen rebounded to dominate the third set 6-0 and give the Royals the title.

Davidzenka was honored as the tournament's Most Valuable Player following the conclusion of the match after posting a 2-0 record in singles play during postseason play.

The Royals will now await the announcement of their seed, opponent and location of the 2018 NCAA Southeast Regional held April 28-29. Queens is currently ranked as the seventh overall team in the latest Southeast Region Rankings.

#36 Queens University of Charlotte 5, #12 Wingate University 3

Singles competition
1. #34 Michela Verpelli (WU) def. #53 Carlotta Nassi (QUWTN) 6-4, 6-2
2. Yana Fleyer (QUWTN) def. Claudia De Andreis (WU) 6-3, 7-5
3. Sasha Davidzenka (QUWTN) def. Chyi Lee (WU) 6-4, 2-6, 7-5
4. Caroline Nielsen (QUWTN) def. Oroma Womeodu (WU) 6-2, 2-6, 6-0
5. Marisa Ostoja (WU) vs. Isabel Fornies (QUWTN) 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 3-3, unfinished
6. Sydney Homan (WU) def. Hannah Lehfeldt (QUWTN) 6-4, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. #25 Michela Verpelli/Maria Garcia (WU) def. Yana Fleyer/Sasha Davidzenka (QUWTN) 8-3
2. Carlotta Nassi/Isabel Fornies (QUWTN) def. Claudia De Andreis/Sydney Homan (WU) 8-2
3. Caroline Nielsen/Hannah Lehfeldt (QUWTN) def. Chyi Lee/Oroma Womeodu (WU) 8-1

Match Notes:
Queens University of Charlotte 16-3; National ranking #36; Regional ranking #7
Wingate University 20-4; National ranking #12; Regional ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,2,3,4)
2018 South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Championship