SUMTER, S.C. – The No. 5 seed Erskine College women's tennis team defeated No. 2 seed Belmont Abbey College by a 4-1 scoreline in the championship match of the 2026 Conference Carolinas Women's Tennis Championships on Saturday afternoon to earn the Fleet's second conference title in the past three years.

After taking the doubles point behind wins at the No. 1 and 2 positions, the Fleet were dominant in singles play. Hanna Vasconez, Vale Guerrero, and Barbara Brito all earned straight-set wins to seal the championship for the Fleet. 

Guerrero was named Tournament MVP and was joined by Vasconez and Brito on the All-Tournament Team.
 
THE MATCH
Score: Erskine 4, Belmont Abbey 1
Records: Erskine (16-8, 9-3 CC), Belmont Abbey (21-8, 10-2 CC)
Location: Palmetto Tennis Center
 
Singles

1. Hanna Vasconez def. Kaitlyn Nguyen 7-6 (5), 6-3
2. Vale Guerrero def. Alexis Burkhalter 6-1, 6-2
3. Ariana Jativa vs. Mackenzie McCarthy unfinished
4. Hanley Riner def. Maria Carla Padovani 6-2, 6-0
5. Barbara Brito def. Leilany Sanchez 6-4, 7-5
6. Simona Stepanovic vs. Rebekka Collyer unfinished

Doubles

1. Guerrero/Jativa def. McCarthy/Riner 6-4
2. Padovani/Brito def. Nguyen/Burkhalter 6-2
3. Collyer/Sanchez def. Vasconez/Stepanovic 6-3

WHAT'S NEXT?
Erskine clinches an automatic qualifier into the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional, which will be held from May 8-9, with the official selection show taking place in the coming weeks.

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