INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Transylvania men's tennis sailed through the Heartland Conference tournament Saturday, triumphing in a 5-0 sweep of Anderson and a 5-1 semifinal victory over No. 2 Rose-Hulman for a chance to snag their tenth HCAC crown.

Transylvania shutout the Ravens in the opening round Saturday morning, taking all three doubles matches for a 3-0 advantage. Senior Patrick Richardson and freshman Steven Mayborg capped off the Pioneers' win early as Richardson took a 6-0, 6-0 straight set win and Mayborg a 6-1, 6-0 victory, sending them to the semifinals in a rematch against Rose-Hulman.

Earlier this season, Rose-Hulman became only the second team in conference to beat the Pioneers in a decade in a close 5-4 decision. However, the Pioneers retaliated in the semifinals, taking five early matches and abruptly ending the Engineers' post-season.

The matchup was even after the opening doubles sets, as the Pioneers snagged a No. 2 seed victory thanks to Dylan Conner and Richardson. It would be Transylvania's singles matchups that would make the difference.

Robert Albrecht defeated opponent Brandon Benedict handidly, 6-3, 6-1, as did Mayborg against Rose's Erin Miller in the No. 5 position, 6-2, 6-2. Richardson found difficulty in the opening set against his Rose opponent, 7-5, but slammed the door shut in the second set, 6-2.

The victory hinged on the next match to finish, which was sophomore Reza Haider in the No. 6 seed. After an easy 6-2 first set, Rose's Joe Kendall stepped up to challenge, forcing a tiebreak for the second set. Haider finished the tie break winning 7-3, sending the Pioneers to the HCAC title match.

Transylvania faces No. 1 Earlham in the HCAC championship final on Sunday at 12 p.m. at the West Racquet Indy Club in Indianapolis.

Transylvania 5, Rose-Hulman 1 - Semifinals
Singles competition
1. Robert Albrecht (TRANSY) def. Brandon Benedict (RHIT) 6-3, 6-1
2. Georges Adam (RHIT) vs. Dylan Conner (TRANSY) unfinished
3. Matthew Conrad (RHIT) vs. Josh Buckman (TRANSY) unfinished
4. Patrick Richardson (TRANSY) def. Nate Moore (RHIT) 7-5, 6-2
5. Steven Mayborg (TRANSY) def. Erin Miller (RHIT) 6-2, 6-2
6. Reza Haider (TRANSY) def. Joe Kendall (RHIT) 6-2, 7-6 (7-3)

Doubles competition
1. Brandon Benedict/Georges Adam (RHIT) def. Robert Albrecht/Josh Buckman (TRANSY) 8-4
2. Dylan Conner/Patrick Richardson (TRANSY) def. Nate Moore/Matthew Conrad (RHIT) 8-2

Transylvania 5, Anderson (IN) 0 - Opening Round
Singles competition
1. Robert Albrecht (TRANSY) vs. Drew Lovern (ANDERSON) unfinished
2. Dylan Conner (TRANSY) vs. Connor Whiteside (ANDERSON) unfinished
3. Josh Buckman (TRANSY) vs. Dillon Lockwood (ANDERSON) unfinished
4. Patrick Richardson (TRANSY) def. Andrew Gingerich (ANDERSON) 6-0, 6-0
5. Steven Mayborg (TRANSY) def. Ethan Hillman (ANDERSON) 6-1, 6-0
6. Seth Gannon (TRANSY) vs. Clay Combs (ANDERSON) unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Robert Albrecht/Josh Buckman (TRANSY) def. Drew Lovern/Connor Whiteside (ANDERSON) 8-6
2. Dylan Conner/Patrick Richardson (TRANSY) def. Dillon Lockwood/Andrew Gingerich (ANDERSON) 9-7
3. Steven Mayborg/Reza Haider (TRANSY) def. Ethan Hillman/Eric Beck (ANDERSON) 8-2