Related Links:
UW-Oshkosh Box Score
UW-Eau Claire Box Score
WIAC Team Championship Web Page
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's tennis squad hosted the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Team Championship at Janesville Athletic Club and Lake Geneva Tennis Saturday. Matches were played to decision.
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The no. 36 Warhawks (12-11, 7-0 WIAC) bested UW-Oshkosh (5-11, 3-3 WIAC) in the semifinals 5-0, before earning their WIACÂ Team Championship and NCAA automatic berth with a 5-1 victory over UW-Eau Claire (15-5, 5-2 WIAC) in a rematch of last season's WIAC championship match.
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The Warhawks fired on all cylinders out of the gate against the Titans, claiming all three doubles matches. Seniors
Gabi Kitchell (Wausau, Wis./D.C. Everest) and
Julie Martin (Morton, Ill./Morton) put together a dominating 8-0 performance in the first slot to set the tone for the Warhawks'Â Senior Day.Â
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Kitchell and sophomore
Sabrina Palavra (Skokie, Ill/Niles North) soon clinched the match for the Warhawks in singles, with 6-2, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-0 performances in the first and third slots respectively.
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Against the Blugolds in the championship match, the Warhawks started out with claiming two of three singles matches. Kitchell and Martin yet again emerged victorious in the first slot with an 8-3 victory.
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The Warhawks quickly cleaned up the match and claimed their 12th straight trip to the NCAA championship, with Martin claiming yet another point in the second singles slot, and freshman
Elsie Ha (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) contributing with a 6-3, 6-0 victory in the fifth slot to seal the victory for the Warhawks.
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The Warhawks concluded their season as WIAC champions and will await to see who and where they will play in the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament. It will be revealed on May 6 in an NCAA.com press release.Â
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