PICTURED ABOVE: Julie Buursma's victory at No. 6 singles gave Wheaton the 5-4 victory over Principia on Thursday.

St. Louis, Mo.- The Wheaton Thunder opened play in NCAA-III National Women's Tennis Tournament on Thursday by battling the weather as well as the Principia Panthers. After the Thunder took a 2-1 lead over the champions of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC), weather suspended the match before singles play could begin. With the delay, competition was moved across the river to Belleville, Illinois to an indoor facility. Wheaton and Principia (12-5) were forced to wait until the completion of the originally scheduled Franklin-Coe match before continuing with the start of singles competition. Both teams won three singles matches, but with the contest tied at 4-4, Julie Buursma's 6-1, 6-4 victory at #6 singles pushed Wheaton (17-4) through to the second round. 

Wheaton will face the Regional host, #12-ranked Washington (Mo.) University (14-7) in a Second Round match on Friday at 9 AM.

WHEATON 5, PRINCIPIA 4
Singles competition
1. Carlie Sanderude (PCWT) def. Ray, Sarah (WHEATON) 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
2. Boyer, Kirsten (WHEATON) def. Sarah Corbitt (PCWT) 7-5, 1-6, 6-2
3. Schlabach, Lauren (WHEATON) def. Kelly Adams (PCWT) 7-5, 6-1
4. Hanne Andersen (PCWT) def. Shults, Marissa (WHEATON) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
5. Olivia Ikuma (PCWT) def. Carey, Julia (WHEATON) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
6. Buursma, Julie (WHEATON) def. Justine Roy (PCWT) 6-1, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Carlie Sanderude/Sarah Corbitt (PCWT) def. Ray, Sarah/Buursma, Julie (WHEATON) 9-8 (7-4)
2. Boyer, Kirsten/Shults, Marissa (WHEATON) def. Kelly Adams/Hanne Andersen (PCWT) 8-2
3. Schlabach, Lauren/Nelson, Erika (WHEATON) def. Olivia Ikuma/Justine Roy (PCWT) 8-4