WHITEWATER, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team opened the day with a 5-2 victory over UW-La Crosse but fell 9-0 to 26th-ranked UW-Whitewater to finish in second place at the WIAC Team Tournament for the second straight year today.
Whitewater automatically qualified to compete in the NCAA Division III Championship for the sixth straight year by picking up two wins today. The Warhawks also beat UW-Oshkosh earlier in the day 5-0.
Against the Eagles, the Blugolds won two doubles matches and three singles competitions. UW-La Crosse won both No. 1 singles and doubles.
The doubles contests were all closely contested but Gretchen Bachmeier (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) and Maddie Johnson (So.-Lakeville, Minn./South) won 9-7 at No. 2 while Mary Frassetto (Jr.-Oshkosh, Wis./West) and Madison Rossebo (So.-Minnetonka, Minn.) won 8-5 at No. 3.
In singles play, Katie Gillman (Jr.-Red Wing, Minn.), Johnson and Renee Nelson (So.-Madison, Wis./La Follette) picked up victories, competing at No. 3, No. 4 and No. 6. Bachmeier and Frassetto were also leading when their matches went unfinished because the Blugolds had also won the dual.
Against the Warhawks, Johnson played in the closest match of the day at No. 4 singles. She hung with her opponent in the first set but came up just short, 7-5, and then dropped the second set 6-1.
Eau Claire is now 17-3 on the season.
The Blugolds will now wait to see if they are selected to the 2013 NCAA Division III Championship. Selections will be announced on NCAA.com on May 6 at 7 p.m. (Eastern).
-KM-
