Related Links:
Box Score
UW-Whitewater Host Website
Photo Gallery

The 21st-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's tennis team took a 3-0 lead after doubles and went on to defeat St. Scholastica 5-1 at Wangerin Courts in Whitewater Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Warhawks, 23-5, advance to the second round for the ninth year in a row and will face either Hope or Northwestern-St. Paul tomorrow at 10 am.

Gabi Kitchell (Wausau, Wis./D.C. Everest) and Alexandra Talyansky (Mequon/Homestead), playing three doubles for the 15th time this season, set the tone for the Warhawks finishing their doubles match first, topping CSS 8-0. The tandem is 26-2 overall and 14-1 when playing in the third spot.

Alicia Beck (Bismarck, ND/St. Mary's Central) and Jillian Wallace (Crystal Lake, IL/Central) were the next Warhawks to finish, defeating their counterpart from CSS 8-2. The number two doubles team improved to 29-8 overall with the win.

Megan Humphreys (Kenosha/Tremper) and Bridgid McGuire (Slinger/Slinger) wrapped up the doubles sweep with an 8-5 victory at the number one flight. They are 32-4 in doubles play this season.

In singles action, Kitchell was again the first to finish. The freshman moved up to play in the top spot for the eighth time this season and won 6-1, 6-0. Kitchell is 40-1 overall in singles play and an impressive 8-0 when playing at the top spot.

CSS took the six singles match to inch closer at 4-1, but Talyansky slammed the door shut on a comeback by defeating her opponent at two singles 6-4, 6-3 to improve to 26-8 this season.

Since the match is played to decision, the remaining three singles matches were not finished. Jillian Wallace (Crystal Lake, IL/Central) and Alicia Beck (Bismarck, ND/St. Mary's Central) were both leading their matches at the time of completion.

Tomorrow the Warhawks will face either Hope, who is ranked 34th in the nation and 8th in the Central Region, or unranked Northwestern-St. Paul. UW-W has played Hope four times in school history, winning just once, last season. The Eagles and Warhawks have never met.