HICKORY, N.C. - Two of the top women's tennis teams in the SAC went to battle on Friday in Hickory, and it was Lenoir-Rhyne that came out on top of Newberry with a 5-2 victory. The Bears avenge an earlier season loss to Newberry and win their 8th straight match, while also handing Newberry (14-2) only its second loss of the season. The Wolves came into the match ranked No. 16 in the nation but didn't have enough firepower today.

LR swept the doubles round, with Gemma Southwick and Lucy Whelan taking a 6-1 win at No. 1, Alicia Wahlberg and Diana Babinets at No. 2 6-3, and Sandy Mitsou and Evgeniya Pugina at No. 3 6-2.

In singles, Wahlberg finished off a 2-0 day with a win at No. 3 after dropping the first set 6-0 (0-6, 6-1, 6-3), and Whelan did the same at No. 4 (6-2, 6-3). Babinets won a three-set match at No. 5 singles (3-6, 6-2, 6-2), and Sandy Mitsou brought home the win for LR with a 6-1, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles. 

LR is now 3-0 in the SAC and will step out of conference play on Tuesday when they travel to King (Tenn.).