MATCH SCORES
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana stretched their winning streak to eight with a commanding 8-1 win over Winona State. The Vikings are now 17-1 on the season with a perfect 9-0 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play and the Warriors suffer their first loss in the NSIC, falling to 6-8 overall, 5-1 in conference play.
Augustana and Winona State have met in the NSIC tournament finals each of the past three seasons, with the Vikings coming out on top every time. Augustana would win their eighth straight match over WSU, beginning with a dominating doubles sweep.
The No. 1 doubles match featured two pairings ranked in the top eight of the ITA Central Region rankings with Augustana's
Katie Jesperson and
Jessa Richards holding the No. 2 spot and WSU's Hannah Potter and Jessica Urban ranked eighth.
The top Viking duo put any hopes of an upset to bed with a crushing 8-1 win. Jesperson and Richards jumped out to a 7-0 lead, breaking the Warriors in their first three service games before the WSU pairing could hold serve, but it was too late as Richards closed the door with a strong service game for the win.
The Viking lead then grew to 2-0 as
Jenna Helleberg and
Meredith Lawrence cruised to an 8-1 win in the third-flight doubles contest.
Christine Olivo and
Heather Sullivan completed the doubles sweep with an 8-3 win at No. 2 doubles.
Opening singles competition, Jesperson wasted no time showing off her No. 4 region ranking with her third consecutive 6-0, 6-0 win. Sliding up to No. 5 singles, Lawrence gave the Vikings their match-clinching win, defeating her WSU counterpart 6-2, 6-1.
Adding to the score, Richards collected her eighth straight singles win, staving off several of Urban's comeback attempts with a 6-2, 6-3 win at No. 2 singles. The Warriors finally got on the board in a thrilling three-set match at No. 4 singles.
Helleberg secured a one-set lead after a late break to force a tiebreaker which she dominated. Winona State's Brianna Havelka then won a break-filled second set and came from behind to take the third-set super tiebreaker for the Warriors' only win at 6-7 (7-2), 6-4, 10-7.
Francesca Beg then got the Vikings back on track, overpowering her opponent with strong service games and key breaks to win the No. 3 singles contest, 6-1, 6-2. Sullivan then gave Augustana their final win, a 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 6 singles.
Augustana heads to the Free State next weekend where they will take on Emporia State (Kan.) and Washburn (Kan.) in nonconference matches on April 6 and 7, respectively.
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