GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum's Carlos Garcia became the first player in the program's history to go undefeated in South Atlantic Conference singles play as the No. 35 Pioneers posted a 7-2 win over Wingate Saturday at the Nichols Tennis Complex. With the victory, Tusculum wins the outright SAC Championship, its third in school history.

Garcia, a senior from Caracas, Venezuela, won his 25th straight SAC singles match, but had to rally from a set down to defeat Braeden Patchell 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles.

Tusculum (17-1, 7-0 SAC) swept all three doubles matches, including an 8-1 pro set win by the No. 2 duo of Henrique Rodrigues and Leo Guaycurus.

TC senior Sergio Espinosa fell behind 6-3 in the opening set of his match with Mitchell Lvovsky at No. 1 singles, but he fought back to claim the next two sets, 6-4, 6-0.

The Bulldogs' Jose Valarezo rallied from a set down in his second flight confrontation with Nicolas Bigler to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Rodrigues and Hunter Beal won their respective singles matches and the fourth and sixth flights, respectively, while Wingate's Louis Villarroel won 6-4, 6-1 over Guaycurus at No. 5 singles.

Both teams return to action next week in quarterfinal round action of the 2008 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. Official tournament pairings will be announced by the league office.

- TC -

No. 35 Tusculum 7, Wingate 2
Singles
1 - Sergio Espinosa (TC) def. Mitchell Lvovsky 3-6, 6-4, 6-0
2 - Jose Valarezo (WU) def. Nicolas Bigler 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
3 - Carlos Garcia (TC) def. Braeden Patchell 2-6, 6-1, 6-3
4 - Henrique Rodrigues (TC) def. Brendan Molan 6-2, 6-1
5 - Louis Villarroel (WU) def. Leo Guaycurus 6-4, 6-1
6 - Hunter Beal (TC) def. Felipe Fidalgo 6-0, 6-2

Doubles
1 - Garcia/Espinosa (TC) def. Patchell/Valarezo 8-5
2 - Rodrigues/Guaycurus (TC) def. Molan, Fidalgo 8-1
3 - Beal/Bigler (TC) def. Lvovsky/Villarroel 9-8