GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum College men's tennis team clinched at least a share of the 2008 South Atlantic Conference title with Friday's 9-0 win over Catawba College at the Nichols Tennis Complex. The No. 35 Pioneers (16-1, 6-0 SAC) win their third SAC championship and second in four years. Catawba falls to 12-5 overall and 5-2 in league play.

Tusculum swept all three doubles points, including an 8-1 pro set win by Nicolas Bigler and Hunter Beal at No. 3 doubles over the Catawba duo of Hector Bousoulas and Cyle Petersen.

At No. 1 singles, Bigler outlasted Catawba's Sean Soltan 6-3, 3-6, (10-7) in a three-set marathon, while senior Carlos Garcia defeated Bousoulas 6-3, 6-1 to remain undefeated in his career in league play, winning his 24th straight SAC match.

Friday was Senior Day for Garcia and teammate Sergio Espinosa. The duo won their doubles match at the top flight, while Espinosa won at No. 2 singles battle (6-3, 6-2) over Bryce Cockerham.

Tusculum can claim the outright title on Saturday when they host Wingate University for an 11 a.m. match at the Nichols Tennis Complex. The Pioneers have won their last 11 matches.

- TC -

No. 35 Tusculum 9, Catawba 0
Singles
1 - Nicolas Bigler (TC) def. Sean Soltan 6-3, 3-6, (10-7)
2 - Sergio Espinosa (TC) def. Bryce Cockerham 6-3, 6-2
3 - Carlos Garcia (TC) def. Hector Bousoulas 6-3, 6-1
4 - Henrique Rodrigues (TC) def. Cyle Petersen 8-3
5 - Leo Guaycurus (TC) def. Dana Pallesen 8-0
6 - Hunter Beal (TC) def. Tom McCormack 8-3

Doubles
1 - Espinosa/Garcia (TC) def. Cockerham/Soltan 8-3
2 - Guaycurus/Rodrigues (TC) def. McCormack/Pallesen 8-4
3 - Bigler/Beal (TC) def. Bousoulas/Petersen 8-1