JANESVILLE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team defeated UW-La Crosse in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Team Tournament semifinal match Saturday afternoon. With the victory the Blugolds advanced to the WIAC Championship, but fell to UW-Whitewater 5-1 in the championship match.

Semi-Final Results| Championship Results

The Blugold women entered the semifinal match as the No. 3 seed with a 14-4 overall record, while UW-La Crosse was the No. 2 seed and had a 15-4 overall record. Eau Claire took an early lead, winning all three doubles matches. Natalie Wijesinghe (Apple Valley, MN) paired with Emily Cooper  (White Bear, Minn.)  lead the way with an 8-3 win at No. one doubles. Hanna Zevenbergen (Baldwin,Wis./ Baldwin-Woodville) and  Molly Stewart (Amery, Wis. followed suite with an 8-7 victory at number two doubles. Alexa Brooks (Beaver Dam, Wis.) and Lindsey Henderson (Prior Lake, Minn.) finished the doubles sweep with a 8-3 victory at number three doubles. Heading into singles action with a 3-0 lead the Blugolds need just two singles points to secure the win. Cooper defeated Clope (UWL) at number two singles, while Stewart took down Spahn (UWL) at the number three singles spot to finish the match.

With the win over UW-La Crosse the Blugolds advanced to the WIAC Championship. Eau Claire fell to long-time champion UW-Whitewater 5-1. Stewart and Zevenbergen earned the single Blugold point with a 8-3 victory at number two doubles. With the win the Warhawks earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship in May. 

Eau Claire finishes the season 15-5 and second in the WIAC with a 5-1 conference record.