Gambier, Ohio - The Wheaton women's tennis team (17-5) rallied for a 5-3 win against John Carroll (15-6) on Thursday in the First Round of the 2019 NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championship. The Blue Streaks led 2-1 at the end of doubles today, however Wheaton out-scored John Carroll 4-1 in singles play to come from behind for the victory.

Today's victory is Wheaton's first NCAA Tournament win since 2013 when the Thunder defeated Principia 5-4. The Thunder have a 10-11 all-time record in 12 NCAA Division III Women's Tennis Tournament appearances.

John Carroll won the first two doubles matches of the day. John Carroll's Lauren O'Malley and Madisyn Rini defeated the Thunder No. 1 doubles team of Claire Browning and Claire Dibble 8-4. The John Carroll tandem of Megan Reese and Skye Harwood earned an 8-7 (7-5) victory at No. 2 doubles against Wheaton's Sara Magnuson and Nicole Freeman. Wheaton closed out doubles with an 8-6 victory at No. 3 doubles for Emma Westwick and Bethany Hoogerheide against the JCU team of Alyssa Krupp and Carlye Campagna.

Magnuson was a 6-0, 6-3 victor for Wheaton at No. 2 singles against Rini to tie the team score at 2-2. O'Malley defeated Westwick  6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles to give John Carroll a 3-2 lead. Wheaton's strong singles play led Wheaton to the next three victories. Dibble defeated Krupp 6-1, 6-4 at No. 4 singles to tie the team score at 3-3. Emme Lindquist's 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 6 singles against Harwood gave Wheaton its first lead of the match with a 4-3 edge for the Thunder. Freeman closed out the victory for the Thunder with a 6-4, 6-3 win at No. 5 singles against Campgana.

Wheaton will face Carnegie Mellon on Friday at 10:00 a.m. (EDT) in the tournament's second round.

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WHEATON 5, JOHN CARROLL 3
Singles competition
1. Lauren O'Malley (JCU) def. Emma Westwick (WHEATON) 6-2, 6-2
2. Sara Magnuson (WHEATON) def. Madisyn Rini (JCU) 6-0, 6-3
3. Megan Reese (JCU) vs. Claire Browning (WHEATON) 6-7 (6-8), 3-2, unfinished
4. Claire Dibble (WHEATON) def. Alyssa Krupp (JCU) 6-1, 6-4
5. Nicole Freeman (WHEATON) def. Carlye Campagna (JCU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Emme Lindquist (WHEATON) def. Skye Harwood (JCU) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Lauren O'Malley/Madisyn Rini (JCU) def. Claire Browning/Claire Dibble (WHEATON) 8-4
2. Megan Reese/Skye Harwood (JCU) def. Sara Magnuson/Nicole Freeman (WHEATON) 8-7 (7-5)
3. Emma Westwick/Bethany Hoogerheide (WHEATON) def. Alyssa Krupp/Carlye Campagna (JCU) 8-6

Match Notes
Wheaton (Ill.) 17-5; Regional ranking #15
John Carroll 15-6; Regional ranking #12
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,1,4,6,5)
NCAA Tournament First Round
T-2:27 A-45



Match file attached.