WHEATON, Ill. – For the sixth consecutive season Augustana will be in the championship round of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Automatic Qualifier in women's tennis. The Vikings punched their ticket on Friday, April 27 with a 5-2 win over Carthage in the first semi-final. Waiting for Head Coach Jon Miedema's charges in the championship match on Saturday, April 28 will be Wheaton.
 
The Wheaton/Augustana matchup is a familiar one as the two teams will be meeting with the NCAA Division III National Tournament berth on the line for the sixth straight year. The Thunder beat Carroll 5-0 in the second semi-final on Friday.
 
Augustana took a 2-1 lead after doubles and the won three singles matches to ice the victory. Freshman Annie Timm (Prairie Ridge HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) and sophomore Zeana Badawi (Hinsdale Central HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) won at number two doubles over Natalie Favia and Lauren Woznicki by a score of8-2. The freshman duo of Maleeha Chowdhury (Rock Canyon HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Faith Johnson (Harker Heights HS, Harker Heights, Texas) beat Talor Bolyard and Hannah Haeberle 8-2.
 
The Vikings lost at number one where juniors Caitlyn Schaffer (Kenwood Academy, Chicago, Ill.) and Madeline Lombardi (Edwardsville HS, Glen Carbon, Ill.) fell 4-8 to Max Mella and Angelica Emmanouil.
 
Timm defeated Emmanouil 6-3; 6-4 at number two singles and Johnson beat Bolyard 6-4; 6-4 at number four. Chowdhury went three sets with Woznicki at number five before prevailing 6-1; 2-6; 6-1.
 
The lone Augustana loss came at number six where freshman Morgan Bullen (Colorado Academy, Lakewood, Colo.) fell 4-6; 3-6 to Maria Salerno of the Lady Reds.
 
Schaffer was leading at number one singles over Mella by a score of 4-6; 6-2; 3-1 when the match was stopped because the Vikings had five points. Badawi was leading Favia (6-7; 6-1; 5-0) at number three before the team decision was reached.
 
Augustana is now 19-8 overall while Carthage fell to 14-8.
 
A year ago the Vikings beat Wheaton 5-4 to win the CCIW's AQ. In 2016 Wheaton won 5-4 and in 2015 Augustana took the title match 5-4. Wheaton won in 2014 by a score of 6-3 and in 2013 the final was 9-0 in favor of the Thunder.