GAME STATS Hanover Park, Ill. - The Thunder women's tennis team participated in the opening day of action at the 2021 CCIW Women's Tennis Championship on Thursday afternoon. Wheaton, the tournament's No. 3 seed, defeated No. 6 Carroll 5-1 in a First Round match.

The Thunder won two of the three doubles matches this afternoon to take a 2-1 lead in the match score. Bethany Hoogerheide and Lydia Adams of Wheaton defeated the Carroll tandem of Madison Ostrander and Sophia Dekker 8-4 in their match at No. 2 doubles. Sarah Backer and Lily Anne Van Ye defeated Carroll's No. 3 doubles team of Maya Gaedtke and Rachel Papp, 8-4.

Wheaton's 2-1 advantage at the conclusion of doubles play meant Wheaton need just three wins in singles action to secure the five points needed to win the match. Audrey Vick was a 6-2, 6-0 winner at No. 2 singles against Carroll's Ashley LaBelle. Backer defeated Gaedtke 6-1, 6-3 in their match at No. 4 singles. Alexandra Wachs was a 6-1, 6-3 victor at No. 5 singles.

Wheaton (9-2) advances to face the winner of today's final First Round Match between No. 2 Millikin and No. 7 Illinois Wesleyan.