WHEATON, Ill. – Coach Jon Miedema's Augustana women's tennis team improved to 9-1 on the year and 7-0 in the CCIW Saturday with a 5-4 win over Wheaton on the road. The Thunder suffered its first setback in nine dual meets this fall and finish CCIW dual-meet play with a 7-1 record.
 
With Saturday's singles matches split evenly, taking two of three doubles contests keyed the Viking victory.
 
Freshmen Faith Johnson (Harker Heights HS, Harker Heights, Texas) and Morgan Bullen (Colorado Academy, Lakewood, Colo.) were 8-1 winners at number three over Nicole Freeman and Emme Lindquist. At number two, Wheaton's Miranda Kay and Sara Magnuson scored an 8-2 victory over Sophomore Zeana Badawi (Hinsdale Central HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) and freshman Annie Timm (Prairie Ridge HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.). Juniors Caitlyn Schaffer (Kenwood Academy, Chicago, Ill.) and Madeline Lombardi (Edwardsville HS, Glen Carbon, Ill.) gave the Vikings a 2-1 lead heading to singles action, outlasting Claire Browning and Katie Park 9-8 (4) at first doubles.
 
Freshman Margaret Chadick (Plainfield North HS, Plainfield, Ill.) won love and two over Lindquist at sixth singles and the Thunder's Emma Westwick was a 6-0, 6-3 winner over freshman Maleeha Chowdhury (Rock Canyon HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) at number four.
 
Browning defeated Bullen 7-5, 6-0 at number five and Park downed Schaffer 7-5, 6-1 at number one to put Wheaton up 4-3. However, Augustana got just what it needed with wins at second and third singles. Badawi defeated Kay 6-3, 7-5 at number three and Timm was a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Magnuson at number two.
 
The Vikings will try to complete a spotless run through the CCIW in dual-meet play on Sunday, October 15, when Illinois Wesleyan visits the Lower Campus Courts at noon.