Wheaton, Ill. - The Wheaton College women's tennis team defeated Augustana 5-2 on Saturday in the championship match of the 2018 CCIW Automatic Qualifier Tournament. The tournament title marks Wheaton's league-best ninth tournament victory since the CCIW Automatic Qualifier Tournament began in 2007. 

Wheaton earns the CCIW's automatic bid to the upcoming NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Championship by winning this weekend's tournament. The NCAA berth is Wheaton's 11th NCAA Tournament appearance. The Thunder will find out its First Round opponent and Regional location when tournament brackets are announced on Monday, May 7.

Wheaton head coach Jane Nelson said of her team's victory, "The only way I can describe the match today is as an epic battle. Both Augie's team and our team have have had wonderful seasons. They really made us earn the win today." Nelson continued, "I could not be more proud of every single member of our team. They all played a role in this win. It all starts at practice with hard work and effort by everyone daily. We have had our eyes on this match all spring and we had a group of very determined young women on the courts today led by our captains Katie Park and Miranda Kay. It was a tremendous win!"

Augustana led the Thunder 2-1 at the conclusion of doubles competition. Miranda Kay (PICTURED LEFT) and Sara Magnuson picked up Wheaton's lone doubles win with a 9-7 victory at No. 2 doubles against Annie Timm and Zeana Badawi.

Emma Westwick tied the match at 2-2 when she completed a 6-1, 6-0 victory at No. 4 singles against Augustana's Faith Johnson. Claire Browning followed with a 7-5, 6-3 victory against Maleeha Chowdhury in the matchup at No. 5 singles. Nicole Freeman increased the Thunder lead to 4-2 with a 7-5, 6-2 victory at No. 6 singles against Morgan Bullen. Senior team captain Miranda Kay secured the tournament title for the Thunder when she rallied for a 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 win against Zeana Badawi at No. 3 singles.

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WHEATON 5, AUGUSTANA 2

Singles competition
1. Katie Park (WHEATON) vs. Caitlyn Schaffer (AUGIE) 7-6, 4-5, unfinished
2. Sara Magnuson (WHEATON) vs. Annie Timm (AUGIE) 6-3, 5-7, 0-2, unfinished
3. Miranda Kay (WHEATON) def. Zeana Badawi (AUGIE) 2-6, 6-0, 6-3
4. Emma Westwick (WHEATON) def. Faith Johnson (AUGIE) 6-1, 6-0
5. Claire Browning (WHEATON) def. Maleeha Chowdhury (AUGIE) 7-5, 6-3
6. Nicole Freeman (WHEATON) def. Morgan Bullen (AUGIE) 7-5, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Caitlyn Schaffer/Madeline Lombardi (AUGIE) def. Katie Park/Claire Browning (WHEATON) 8-6
2. Miranda Kay/Sara Magnuson (WHEATON) def. Annie Timm/Zeana Badawi (AUGIE) 9-7
3. Maleeha Chowdhury/Faith Johnson (AUGIE) def. EmmaWestwick/Nicole Freeman (WHEATON) 9-8

Match Notes
Augustana 19-9
Wheaton College 16-3