LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Earlham College men's tennis team grabbed at least a share of the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular season title for the third year in a row on Saturday with an 8-1 win over Transylvania University.

Perhaps more importantly, the Quakers (16-2, 8-0) earned the top seed in the upcoming HCAC Tournament on May 4-5 at the West Indy Racquet Club in Indianapolis.

"It's always a good day when you can secure a conference championship and the top seed," Earlham Head Coach Adam Van Zee said. "I think we played all right against Transylvania, but there is always room for improvement."

"We came out flat in singles, so we will need to get better there," Van Zee continued. "Hopefully, we can take this momentum into the conference tourney."

Ranked No. 10 in the latest ITA Central Region poll, Earlham had a 2-1 lead after doubles play with the Pioneers (10-7, 7-1).

Phillip Locklear (Springboro, OH, Springboro) and Kyle Richter (Fremont, CA, Mission San Jose, UC-Santa Cruz) beat Josh Buckman and Zach Meikle 8-1 at No. 2. Brad Maisey (Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, Tauranga Boys) and Andrey Gavrilov (Yaroslavl, Russia, Universal) won 8-2 over Pat Richardson and Tyler Prewitt at No. 3.

In the singles competition, Locklear posted a 6-2, 6-0 win over Robert Albrecht at No. 1. Anton Bartashevich (Moscow, Russia, International) won 6-2, 6-2 over Dylan Conner at No. 2.

At No. 3, Richter beat Buckman 6-2, 6-0. Maisey outlasted Meikle 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 at No. 4.

Jack Ventura-Cruess (Placentia, CA, El Dorado) took a 6-1, 7-5 match from Richardson at No. 5, while Scott Lawrence (Letchworth, England, Cheam) beat Prewitt 7-5, 7-5 at No. 6.

The Quakers rescheduled home match against Manchester University on Sunday has been postponed.

Box Score

The 2013 HCAC Tournament Pairings were announced on Saturday. The event is May 4-5 at the West Indy Racquet Club in Indianapolis.

HCAC Tournament Schedule

Saturday, May 4

Opening Round
Game 1: No. 4 Rose-Hulman vs. No. 5 Hanover, 9 a.m.
Game 2: No. 3 Franklin vs. No. 6 Defiance, 9 a.m.

Semifinals
Game 3: No. 1 Earlham vs. No. 4/5 winner, 2 p.m.
Game 4: No. 2 Transylvania vs. No. 3/6 winner, 2 p.m.

Sunday, May 5

Championship
Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 10 a.m.