NEWBERRY, S.C. – The Presbyterian Blue Hose won the 2002 South Atlantic Conference women’s tennis championship Saturday afternoon with a 6-1 victory over Catawba. The Blue Hose took two of the three doubles matches against the fourth-seeded Indians and won four singles matches. This was the second consecutive season the Blue Hose have won the conference tournament by defeating Catawba.

Presbyterian earned a huge point at #1 doubles, as Rachel Key and Kelly Fitzpatrick broke Gina Ayala and Amy Behrman in the final game to win 9-7. Fitzpatrick also won her singles match 6-4, 6-4 over Behrman. Catawba falls to 17-7.

Both teams should advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament.

PRESBYTERIAN 6, CATAWBA 1

SINGLES
#1 Rachel Key (P) vs. Gina Ayala (C) DNF
#2 Kelly Fitzpatrick (P) d. Amy Behrman 6-4, 6-4
#3 Elise Netzler (P) vs. Bailey Gainey (C) DNF
#4 Lauren Ingle (P) d. Taryn Gordan 6-2, 6-1
#5 Taylor Lynch (P) d. Rachel Morgan 6-0, 6-0
#6 Amanda Floyd (P) d. Shelley Gordan 6-4, 6-2

DOUBLES
#1 Key/Fitzpatrick (P) d. Ayala/Behrman 9-7
#2 Ingle/Netzler (P) d. Gainey/Morgan 8-4
#3 T. Gordan/S. Gordan (C) d. Floyd/Lynch 8-6