The Gustavus women’s tennis team advanced to the NCAA Midwest Region Final for the 20th consecutive year with a 5-1 win over UW-Whitewater at Bally’s Indoor Tennis Center in Chicago on Saturday afternoon. The Gusties will now face host University of Chicago for the right to advance to the NCAA Team Finals, which will take place on May 24-26 in Claremont, California.
Gustavus took a 2-1 lead after doubles play thanks to wins at the #1 position by Sam Frank and Megan Gaard and the #2 position by Marianne Barau and Alex Erickson.
The Gusties would clinch the victory quickly in singles play thanks to straight set wins by Barau at the #3 position (6-1, 6-1), Erickson at the #4 position (6-2, 6-2), and Gaard at the #2 position (6-3, 6-2). The three singles matches remaining on the court when the match was decided were stopped.
Coach Jon Carlson’s squad will play host Chicago on Sunday beginning at noon (CDT). The match is scheduled to be played outdoors, however continued rain is in the forecast and the match will likely be moved back indoors again tomorrow.