Mars Hill Captures Food Lion SAC Men’s Tennis Tournament Title

ROCK, HILL, SC - The Lions of Mars Hill College made their mark in the SAC history book Saturday afternoon when they captured their first Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament title since joining the league.

The tournament's No. 3 seeded Lions dispenced with no. 5 seed Tusculum College in the championship match in an hour and 35 minutes en route to their first Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament title.

After Mars Hill's Andre Schafter and Stevan Stankovic won over opponents Thomas Rees and Drew Kiser at No. 1 doubles 8-6, and then teammates Koeche Smith and Tyrone La Reservee knocked of Tusculum's Leo Guaycurus and Henrique Rodrigues 8-2 in the No. 2 doubles match, the Lions needed to secure three wins in singles to take victory.

Tusculum's Hunter Beal and Steven Lin gave the Pioneers their only victory of the championship match when they defeated MHC's Aleesandro du Besse and Ugras Taylan Batuk 8-4 in No. 3 doubles.

While there were six singles matches that began, only three were completed and all were won by Mars Hill College. The Lions picked up their first win of the singles category when No. 5 seed Tyrone La Rerservee defeated Tusculum's Steven Lin in straight sets 6-3, 6-0. Then, No. 4 seed Andre Schafer knocked off the Pioneers' Leo Guaycurus 6-0, 6-4 to put the match on the brink.

Mars Hill clinched the 2009 SAC Tournament title when No. 2 singles player Koeche Smith needed only two sets to defeat Tusculum's Thomas Rees 6-2, 6-3, ending the remaining three matches and helping the Lions captured their first SAC Men's Tennis Tournament Championship. Smith's efforts throught the tournament and specifically in the championship match helped him earn SAC Tournament MVP honors.

Tusculum College ends the season with a 14-10 record, while Mars Hill moves to 13-5 overall and will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Southeast Regional Tournament to be held in early May. The Lions were the NCAA Southeast Region's No. 14 ranked team entering this weekend's tournament and will most likely move up the ladder before regional tourmanent play gets underway.