Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers Tennis Team Wins 2019 SIAC Championship
04/17/2019
PEACHTREE CITY, GA -- April 17, 2019 – The Clark Atlanta University (CAU) Lady Panthers tennis team defeated Tuskegee University to win the 2019 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Tournament championship held Tuesday, April 16 in Peachtree City, Ga.
The Lady Panthers, the two-day tournament’s top seed, earned the program’s first conference tennis title since 2011, when they defeated Fort Valley State University.
With their win over Benedict in the tournament’s semifinals on Monday, along with Tuesday’s championship match victory, Clark Atlanta University has a perfect 14-0 record in SIAC play this season. The Lady Panthers are 16-3 overall.
The Lady Panthers fell behind early Tuesday, dropping two of three doubles matches. But CAU dominated in singles competition, capped by freshman Madison Majors’ victory to seal the title.
Majors was named Tournament Most Valuable Player and was chosen for the All-Tournament team in singles. Joining her on that team were juniors Keyvona Moultrie and Akilah Parker. Majors and junior Vanessa Eusebio were named to the All-Tournament doubles team.
First-year CAU Head Coach Tara Turner, a former Lady Panthers tennis player, was honored as Coach of the Tournament. "This victory is very exciting for me because this is honoring my coach, Coach Oliver McClendon, and his legacy," said Turner.
Monday, April 15, Akilah Parker was named the SIAC Player of the Year, while Turner was named Coach of the Year. Parker, Majors and Vanessa Eusebio were All-Conference picks in singles competition while Parker and Alexis Fletcher named All-Conference in doubles play.
With the championship, Clark Atlanta earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Tournament. The Lady Panthers await the NCAA’s Selection Day when they reveal the tournament’s bracket and CAU’s opponent.
About Clark Atlanta University
Established in 1988 by the consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869), Clark Atlanta University (CAU) is one of the Nation’s foremost research institutions, offering students from around the United States and several foreign countries the opportunity to engage in 38 exciting areas of study at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Located in the historic heart of Atlanta, one of the world's great international cities, CAU’s nearly 4,000 students enjoy access to academic and co-curricular experiences, from forensic debate, to on-air broadcasting, to cancer research with world-renowned investigators. From the arts to zoology, CAU combines nearly 300 years of tradition with a solid focus on academic excellence to produce leaders who will shape the future of the global community. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu.