Related Links:
Augustana Box Score
Cardinal Stritch Box Score
 
The No. 36 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's tennis team finished 1-1 in two dual matches played at Lake Geneva Tennis in Lake Geneva on Saturday.
 
The Warhawks (7-4 overall) downed College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin champion Augustana (Ill.) by a 7-2 margin before being defeated by NAIA opponent Cardinal Stritch by a 6-3 score later in the day.
 
UW-Whitewater started its dual against Augustana (12-2) by taking two of three doubles matches. Sophomore Paige Nierman (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Stevenson) and freshman Molly Rueth (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard West) put the team on the board with an 8-1 triumph at the third position, and seniors Gabi Kitchell (Wausau, Wis./D.C. Everest) and Julie Martin (Morton, Ill./Morton) added to the lead with an 8-1 win at the first slot.
 
Martin and Kitchell each earned straight-set victories at Nos. 2 and 1 singles, respectively, to increase the Warhawk lead to 4-1. Freshman Elsie Ha (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) earned the match-clinching point with a 6-0, 6-0 triumph at No. 6.
 
Sophomore Sabrina Palavra (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) tallied a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 4, and Nierman overcame a first-set loss for a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 1-0 (10-7) victory at No. 3.
 
Against Cardinal Stritch (3-6), Kitchell and Martin teamed up for their second win of the day, an 8-4 triumph at the top doubles spot.
 
The duo accounted for UW-Whitewater's two points acquired in singles. Martin registered a 6-1, 6-4 victory at No. 2. Kitchell recorded a 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-2) win at No. 1.
 
The Warhawks begin their annual spring break trip Friday, March 22, with their first of two matches at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. The team faces No. 23 College of New Jersey on the 22nd at 11 a.m. Central Time.