Transylvania Notches Seventh Straight HCAC Tennis Championship

INDIANAPOLIS , IN - Transylvania University 's men's tennis team claimed the school's seventh consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference team championship on Sunday afternoon. The Pioneers rolled to a perfect regular season conference record (8-0) earning the top seed for this weekend's championship and rode that momentum to the conference title.

Transy posted wins over Bluffton and Franklin before knocking off second seeded Rose-Hulman to earn the championship.

In Sunday's championship match with Rose, the Pioneers held on for a 5-1 victory. Transy posted wins at both No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Lee Gammon (Chattanooga, Tenn./Baylor) and Keith Henderson (Lexington, Ky./Lafayette) knocked off Alex Gumz (Palatine, Ill.) and David Becerra (Brownsburg, Ind.) of Rose-Hulman at No. 2 doubles 8-1, while Dalton Main (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) and Joseph Glass (Paris, Ky./Bourbon) handed Dallas Burton (Haughton, La.) and Seth Hendrickson (Crawfordsville, Ind.) a loss at No. 3 doubles 8-1.

In singles play, Transylvania earned wins at No. 1, 3, and 5 singles, with the No. 2, 4 and No. 6 singles matches not finishing due to the Pioneers clinching the win with their fifth point. Will Palmer (Lexington, Ky./Henry Clay) earned a win at No. 1 singles over Scott Grubbs (Wildwood, Mo.) 6-2, 6-0, Seth Henderson knocked off Alex Gumz at No. 3 singles, 6-2, 6-2, and Dalton Main handed Seth Hendrickson a defeat at No. 5 singles, 6-1, 6-0.

The single Rose-Hulman victory came from the No. 1 doubles pair of Michael Schoumacher (Memphis , Tenn. ) and Scott Grubbs. Schoumacher and Grubbs defeated Will Palmer and Kyle Clayton (Owensboro , Ky. /Catholic) of Transy 8-5.

With claiming the conference title, Transylvania has earned the conference's automatic bid to play in the NCAA Division III tennis championships next weekend. It will be the school's third straight appearance in the Division III NCAA tennis tournament.