Lions to Face Wingate in SAC Tournament

MARS HILL, N.C.-The Mars Hill men's tennis team will face Wingate in the first round of the 2013 Food Lion SAC Tennis Championship, which begins Thursday.

The Lions and Bulldogs will square off at 9:00 a.m. at the Rock Hill Tennis Center in Rock Hill, S.C. Mars Hill is the number six seed in the tournament, while Wingate is the number three seed. Wingate defeated Mars Hill when the two teams met during the regular season. The winner of Thursday's match will advance to face second-seeded Tusculum, who earned a first-round bye.

Mars Hill finished the regular season 5-9 overall and 4-5 in SAC matches. The Lions concluded the season by winning three of their final four matches to earn the final seed in the conference tournament.

Euquerio Guerrero had the best record in singles play for MHC this season. Guerrero finished the season 7-7 overall and won each of his last two matches. Guerrero primarily competed in the no. 2 singles court. Lucas Simm primarily competed in the no. 1 single court and compiled a 6-8 overall record.

Guerrero and Simm also served as the Lions' top doubles pairing. The duo went 8-6 overall and won four straight to close the season. Zach High and Sam Lee combined for a 5-4 record and carry a three-match win streak into the SAC Tournament.

Wingate concluded the season 14-10 overall. The Bulldogs were 7-2 in conference matches. WU tied with Lincoln Memorial for third place in the conference and was awarded the three seed by virtue of their regular-season victory over the Railsplitters.

Kennedy Cancelado competed as Wingate's no. 1 singles player this season. Cancelado was 13-10 overall. Roberto Hennis compiled the Bulldogs' best winning-percentage with a 17-5 record. Hennis primarily competed in the no. 3 singles court.

Hennis and Neal Towlson form Wingate's no.1 doubles duo, compiling a 9-9 record. Cancelado and Ryan Forbes went 14-7 overall, while the Josh Eardley and Sebastian Hall duo was 14-8 in dual matches.

The Bulldogs won the regular season meeting between the two teams 8-1. Cancelado, Forbes, Hennis, Eardley and Westin Bennett won in singles play for WU. Guerrero picked up Mars Hill's only point in the match.

A complete schedule of the SAC Men's Tennis Championship can be found on the SAC Championship Central Page. The championship match will be held Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.

Admission to all events are free.