ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Mars Hill College captured its first-ever Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Tournament title with Saturday's 5-1 win over cross-mountain rival Tusculum College at the Rock Hill Tennis Center.

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

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.

The Lions picked up their first win of singles, when No. 5 seed Tyrone La Rerservee won over Tusculum's Steven Lin in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0. 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 match at No. 2 singles when Koeche Smith defeated Thomas Rees 6-2, 6-3. Smith's efforts throughout 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.

- SAC -

Mars Hill 5, Tusculum 1
Singles
1 - Henrique Rodrigues (TC) vs. Alessandro du Besse (MHC) DNF
2 - Koeche Smith (MHC) def. Thomas Rees 6-2, 6-3
3 - Hunter Beal (TC) def. Ugras Taylan Batuk DNF
4 - Andre Schafer (MHC) def. Leo Guaycurus 6-0, 6-4
5 - Tyrone La Reservee (MHC) def. Steven Lin 6-3, 6-0
6 - Drew Kiser (TC) vs. Carlos Oyaga (MHC) DNF

Doubles
1 -Schafer/Stevan Stankovic (MHC) def. Rees/Kiser 8-6
2 - Smith/La Reservee (MHC) def. Guaycurus/Rodrigues 8-2
3 - Beal/Lin (TC) def. du Besse/Taylan 8-4