Amherst, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg equestrian team earned a commanding 8-2 victory against Sewanee in the ODAC Semifinal round to advance to the conference championship on Friday morning at the Sweet Briar Equestrian Center.

The No. 1 Hornets began the conference tournament in the semifinals as the top seeded team and competed against fifth-seeded Sewanee, who beat Berry in the play-in meet on Thursday. Lynchburg took four team points in both the fences and flat to seal the assertive victory.

In the fences, recently anointed ODAC Fences Co-Rookie of the Year, Amaya Bellfield, paced the squad with a meet-high 84.5 riding Kobe. Stella Patenaude was the next top finisher with a 78.5 riding Hemingway. Madeline Rubin earned a solid score of 73.0 riding Tallulah, while Mary Katherine Ragsdale earned a team point with a 66.5 riding Cooley. Rebecca Collier rounded out Lynchburg performers in the event with a 55.0 riding Winston.

In the flat, Abby Zemp was the top scorer for the Hornets, riding to an 83.5 on GG for the first team point of the flat. Bellfield and Abigail Devlin each scored 80.0 and earned team points, while Rubin rode to a 75.5 for the final of eight team points for the Hornets. Collier produced a nice 79.0 riding Diego on her go, but was nipped by a half a point. 

Lynchburg returns to Sweet Briar tomorrow for the ODAC Championship against third-seeded Bridgewater, starting at 10 a.m.

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