MATCH SCORES
EMPORIA, Kan. - Augustana finished its regular season road schedule with two big region wins, taking the second of their trip to Kansas with an 8-1 win over Emporia State. The 30th-ranked Vikings improve to 19-1 on the season while the Hornets drop to 13-5.
Augustana continued to improve their region standing with Sunday's win as ESU entered the weekend with the No. 9 ranking in the latest ITA Central Region poll -- the Vikings were ranked third in the same March release.
Holding the No. 2 billing in the Central Region doubles rankings, Katie Jesperson and Jessa Richards got the Vikings off to a quick start with an 8-2 win at No. 1 doubles. Jenna Helleberg and Meredith Lawrence pushed the team lead to 2-0 with a third-flight doubles win by an 8-3 margin.
The Hornets would draw within one point with a No. 2 doubles victory, but it didn't come easy. Christine Olivo and Heather Sullivan fell just short of a doubles sweep, losing in a tiebreaker, 9-8 (7-4).
The 2-1 lead the Vikings had would be enough as Augustana swept all six singles contests, taking each match in straight sets. Jesperson started the six-match spree with a 6-3, 6-4 win in the top spot and Richards equaled her partner's efforts with a No. 2-singles 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Francesca Beg bounced back from a loss yesterday, earning key breaks to take the third-flight singles match 6-4, 7-5. Evening up her record on the day, Olivo recorded a 6-4, 6-3 win in the No. 4 singles contest.
Helleberg and Lawrence both continued their dominant ways in the final two slots. Helleberg notched a 6-2, 6-3 win while Lawrence put the finishing touches on the singles sweep with a No. 6 singles win by scores of 6-1, 6-1.
Augustana will close out their regular season with home matches against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth on April 12 and 13, respectively.
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