TULSA, Okla. – Tournament Most Outstanding Player Camila Soares won a straight-set decision at No. 5 singles to clinch Memphis’ first conference tournament title in program history in a 4-1 win against Tulsa in the American Athletic Conference Championship final Saturday afternoon at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center.
 
Soares scored a 6-3, 6-4 win against Lily Hutchings at No. 5 to cap Memphis’ sweep of the singles round after Tulsa had opened the match by taking a closely contested doubles point.
 
The Tigers’ depth carried the day as Memphis’ singles wins came from the Nos. 3-6 positions, all in straight sets.
 
Tulsa had won the doubles point when the tandem of Hutchings and Ana Naranjo Martinez took a 7-5 tiebreaker at No. 3 after the teams had split the first two positions. The Tigers took over in singles, however, as the six Memphis players all won their first sets, putting the Tigers in position to pick up team points in the second set.
 
Emily Meyer was first to finish as she took a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 4, followed by Alisha Reayer’s 6-4, 6-1 win at No. 3. Monique Woog held off Lian Benedejcic at No. 6 for a 6-2, 7-5 victory, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.
 
Tulsa players were able to force third sets at the top two positions as Laia Conde Monfort and Shura Poppe won their respective second sets. But Soares ended any hope of a comeback with her closeout win at No. 5.
 
Soares earned Most Outstanding Player honors after she went 2-0 in singles, with one unfinished contest, in the Tigers’ three matches, including the clincher in the championship final.
 
Memphis earned The American’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship with the tournament title. The Tigers will make their second NCAA tournament appearance and their first since 2013.
 
 
 
2022 AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE WOMEN’S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP
April 20-23 | Michael D. Case Tennis Center | Tulsa, Oklahoma
 
First Round | Wednesday, April 20                
No. 7 Cincinnati 5, No. 10 Wichita State 1         
No. 6 Houston 4, No. 11 East Carolina 0            
No. 9 South Florida 4, No. 8 Temple 3               
                                                                             
Quarterfinals | Thursday, April 21                 
No. 2 SMU 4, Cincinnati 0                                   
No. 3 Tulsa 4, Houston 1                                     
No. 4 Memphis 4, No. 5 Tulane 1                        
South Florida 4 vs. No. 1 UCF 3                          
                                                                             
Semifinals | Friday, April 22                           
Tulsa 4, SMU 3                                                    
Memphis 4, South Florida 0                               
                                                                             
Final | Sunday, April 23                                    
Memphis 4, Tulsa 1
 
Most Outstanding Player
Camila Soares, Memphis