WISE, Va. --- Tusculum University defeated UVA Wise 6-1 in South Atlantic Conference women's tennis action at the Humphreys Tennis Complex Wednesday afternoon.

The 58th-ranked Pioneers (13-6, 8-4 SAC), who finished the regular season with wins in five of their final six matches, defeated the Cavaliers (7-16, 0-10 SAC) by winning the doubles team point, followed by the first five singles matches.

In doubles, the Pioneers clinched the point by winning two of the three sets. Emilie Hansen and Rory Church defeated Sarah Moore and Lillian Morris 6-1 at flight two, and Leonie Floeth teamed with Valentina Loretz for a 6-2 victory at flight three over Grace Hall and Sara Nichols.

In singles play, Hansen beat Hall 6-0, 6-1 at flight six and Loretz downed Moore 6-0, 6-0 at flight three for a quick 3-0 Tusculum lead. The match was clinched at flight two, where Tabitha Howe beat Katya Akimenko 6-0, 7-5. Also winning for the Pioneers were Johanna Palacio, who won 8-1 over Emily Conn at flight five, and Floeth who beat Anna Hupperten 6-2, 6-0 at flight three.

Tusculum has clinched a spot in next week's SAC Women's Tennis Championship tournament, and the Pioneers will play a quarterfinal match against an opponent to be determined on Thursday, April 21 at 2 p.m. at the Palmetto Tennis Center in Sumter, South Carolina.