MATCH SCORES
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Augustana clinched its fifth straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season with a 9-0 win over St. Cloud State on Saturday afternoon. The Vikings also earned their 50th straight win over a conference opponent and improve to 20-1, 10-0 in NSIC play this season. The Huskies' defeat drops them to 11-12, 8-2 in the NSIC.
Ranked 30th in the ITA national rankings, Augustana was placed at No. 1 in the first NCAA Central Region rankings and they showed why they earned the top billing with their 12th shutout of the season.
Katie Jesperson and
Jessa Richards made quick work of their SCSU counterparts in the No. 1 doubles match. The No. 2 ranked doubles pairing in the Central Region cruised to an 8-1 win to get the Vikings off on the right foot.
Christine Olivo and
Heather Sullivan fought off a comeback in the second-flight doubles match, pulling out an 8-6 win to keep the shutout intact.
Jenna Helleberg and
Meredith Lawrence then completed the doubles sweep with an 8-3 victory at No. 3.
Jesperson then opened the singles contests with a resounding 6-0, 6-3 win in the top spot, followed by Richards' 6-1, 6-0 victory in the second-flight match.
Francesca Beg cruised to a first-set win, but suffered a second-set tiebreak loss, but fought on to earn a 6-1, 6-7 (5-7), 10-3 win.
Olivo kept the Vikings rolling with a 6-0, 6-3 win in the No. 4 match and Helleberg coasted in a 6-1, 6-2 win in the No. 5 contest.
Meredith Lawrence put the finishing touches on the Viking victory with a 6-2, 6-3 win.
The Vikings close out the regular season with an 8 a.m. match against Minnesota Duluth Sunday morning at GreatLife Woodlake Athletic Club.
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