WINCHESTER, Va. - The Shenandoah University women's tennis team clinched sixth place in the USA South Conference Saturday afternoon with a 5-4 win over Averett.

Shenandoah (7-7, 4-5 USA South) needed to defeat Averett (4-10, 3-6) in order to clinch sixth place in the league and avoid having to play in a USA South Conference Tournament opening round match on Tuesday.

Staked to a 2-0 lead before the match started thanks to forfeits at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles, the Hornets got the three wins they needed to secure the victory.

Aliisa Altau and Brittany Bascope got the first of those three wins with an 8-3 triumph at No. 2 doubles.

Altau then continued her winning ways by downing Ilona Kilpi 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 at No. 3 singles for the match clincher.

Altau was put in the position to close out AU thanks to a 6-2, 6-3 win from Candice Sullivan at No. 5 singles.

Shenandoah will face third-seeded Christopher Newport in Friday's quarterfinal round in Burlington, N.C.

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