Related Links:
UW-Stevens Point Box Score
UW-Eau Claire Box Score
WIAC Team Tournament Web Page
The No. 33 University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's tennis team earned a bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the 14th straight year Saturday by winning the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Team Tournament (Presented by Culver's).
The top-seeded Warhawks (19-4 overall) defeated No. 4 seed UW-Stevens Point 7-0 in the semifinals at Premier Tennis and Fitness in Janesville before concluding the day with a 5-1 triumph against No. 2 seed UW-Eau Claire in the final at Lake Geneva Tennis.
UW-Whitewater earned the No. 1 seed in the tournament and hosting privileges after winning the program's 15th consecutive WIAC championship in the fall.
Following the team's semifinal, the Warhawks celebrated Senior Day Presented by Educators Credit Union by honoring
Bryce Bigelow (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper),
Madalyn Bigelow (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper),
Elsie Ha (Palatine, Ill./Fremd),
Olivia Kraft (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) and
Molly Rueth (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard West).
UW-Whitewater will begin play in the NCAA Tournament May 13-15 at a regional site to be determined. The full national tournament field will be announced via press release on NCAA.com on Monday, May 9.
Against UW-Stevens Point (22-5), the Warhawks didn't surrender a game in doubles on their way to a 3-0 lead.
Courtney Day (Oshkosh, Wis./North) and
Bethany Marshall (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) were first to finish in the No. 3 spot and were followed by
Molly Rueth (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard West) and
Kellie Ha (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) at No. 2 and
Autumn Bruno (Milwaukee, Wis./Greenfield Whitnall) and
Cassie Lee (Downers Grove, Ill./Timothy Christian) at No. 1.
Lee registered a 6-1, 6-0 victory at the second singles position to increase the UW-W advantage to 4-0 before
Elsie Ha (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) clinched the dual with a 6-1, 6-0 win at the fourth position.
Gianna Nikoleit (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community) collected a 6-1, 6-0 triumph at the third position and Bruno earned a 6-0, 6-0 victory at the first position before play was halted.
Against UW-Eau Claire (11-8), UW-Whitewater claimed two of the three doubles matches for a 2-1 lead. Day and Marshall were first on the board with an 8-4 win at No. 3 and, after the Blugolds tied it, Bruno and Lee put UW-W ahead with an 8-3 triumph at No. 1.
Lee posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory at No. 2 singles to double the Warhawk advantage. Bruno earned a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 1 to set up Nikoleit, who wrapped up the dual with a 6-4, 6-4 triumph at No. 3.
All other singles matches were left unfinished as decision was reached.
