BREVARD, N.C. - Headlined by sophomore Rebecca Bruning's three-set match-clinching singles victory, fifth-seeded Anderson University women's tennis advanced to the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament with a 5-4 victory over fourth-seeded Newberry Thursday afternoon at the McCoy Tennis Complex on the campus of Brevard College.
The victory puts the Trojans in the semifinals of the SAC Tournament for the second time in three seasons, as they earn their first triumph in the annual event since advancing to the tournament final in 2013. Anderson improves to 15-5 for the season, while the Wolves close their SAC Tournament campaign with a 17-6 mark.
In the doubles round, the sister tandem of senior Lindsay Gregory and freshman Abigail Gregory recorded Anderson's first team point with an 8-1 decision over Newberry's Rebeca Martinez and Kelly McManus at the No. 3 position. After the Wolves bounced back with a victory at No. 2, the pair of Bruning and freshman Ivey Welborn notched an 8-6 win over Amanda Carillo and Vanessa Ortiz at No. 1 to secure a 2-1 edge moving into the singles round.
For the singles portion, junior Nikkola Wichenko grabbed an early win over McManus at the No. 6 slot with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph to increase the AU lead to 3-1. Lindsay Gregory followed the junior with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Martinez at the No. 5 position, as she claimed her 14th singles victory of the year.
With AU holding a convincing 4-1 advantage, the Wolves answered with victories at No. 1, No. 3 and No. 4, to tie the team score at 4-4. The match would come down to No. 2 with Bruning and Ortiz squaring off for the second time this season, as Ortiz handed Bruning her only conference singles setback of the season in a 6-3 loss to Newberry on March 24 in Lexington, S.C.
After Ortiz claimed the opening set, 6-3, Bruning bounced back with a 6-1 win in the second set, followed by a 6-4 victory in the final set to give Anderson the postseason triumph. For Bruning, the singles win was her 17th of the season as she is now 11-1 against opponents from the SAC.
The Trojans look to continue their tournament run on Friday when they matchup with top-seeded Wingate, as they seek to avenge an earlier season setback to the Bulldogs. First serve from the McCoy Tennis Complex is scheduled for 1 p.m.
