ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Senior Caitlyn Schaffer (Kenwood Academy, Chicago, Ill.) became the winningest player in the history of Augustana tennis Friday, as the Vikings defeated North Central 5-0 in the semifinals of the CCIW Automatic Qualifier Tournament at the Lower Campus Courts. Coach Jon Miedema's squad improved to 18-5 on the season and advanced to the championship on Saturday, April 27 at 1:00 p.m. Augustana will face the winner of Friday's second semifinal between Wheaton and Carthage for the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
Ranked 14th in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, the top-seeded Vikings took all three doubles matches against the fourth-seeded Cardinals (16-7) before Schaffer and junior Zeana Badawi (Hinsdale Central HS, Burr Ridge, Ill.) sealed the victory with wins at first and third singles, respectively.
 
Schaffer and classmate Madeline Lombardi (Edwardsville HS, Glen Carbon, Ill.), already the winningest combo in program history, defeated Alaina Kanthaphixay and Katie McGraw 8-4 at first doubles for their 66th career win together. It was also Schaffer's 101st career doubles win—just one away from Dana Goggin's (2013-17) school record.
 
Badawi and sophomore Annie Timm (Prairie Ridge HS, Crystal Lake, Ill.) were 8-2 winners over Morgan House and Tiffany Smolik at number two and sophomores Morgan Bullen (Colorado Academy, Lakewood, Colo.) and Leraaen Abbott (Belvidere North HS, Belvidere, Ill.) downed Diana Barcelata and Katie Legorreta 8-4 at number three to complete the doubles sweep.
 
Schaffer's 6-0, 6-1 singles victory over Barcelata at number one was the 96th of her career (third in program history) and gave her 197 total wins, breaking Lauren Goggin's school record set from 2013-17.
 
Badawi bested McGraw 6-3, 6-1 at third singles to clinch the team victory.
 
The Vikings were leading at all four unfinished singles, matches as well. Timm was up 6-4, 2-0 on Kanthaphixay at number two. Lombardi held a 6-2, 5-2 lead over House at number four and Bullen and Abbott led 6-4, 5-0 and 6-1, 3-4, respectively, over Smolik and Legorreta at numbers five and six.
 
Augustana, which finished 8-0 in CCIW head-to-head play this year, is scheduled to face the Wheaton-Carthage winner at the Lower Campus Courts on Saturday, although inclement weather could move the title dual to the Quad City Tennis Club in Moline, Illinois.