Whitewater, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's tennis team advanced to the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship (presented by Culver's) match with a pair of victories on Saturday at UW-Whitewater. UWL, the tournament's third-seed, earned a 9-0 win over sixth-seeded UW-Stout in the opening round before a 5-2 victory over second-seeded UW-Eau Claire in the semifinals. 

UWL, now 10-4 on the season, faces top-seeded UW-Whitewater in the championship match on Sunday, April 25 at 11 a.m. in Whitewater. The winner earns the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. 

In the win over UW-Stout, UWL started the dual with all three wins in doubles. Kimberly Steinert/Kellie Hierl (No. 1), Hannah Riegle/Kaitlyn Kalinka (No. 2) and Morgan Graf/Lauren Witt (No. 3) earned the victories. 

The Eagles swept the singles, all in straight sets, losing only seven games in the six matches. Steinert (No. 1), Riegle (No. 2), Witt (No. 3), Graf (No. 4), Susi Hu (No. 5) and Katie Kearney (No. 6) picked up the victories. 

UWL took a 3-0 lead over UW-Eau Claire, sweeping the doubles matches. Steinert/Hierl (No. 1), Riegle/Kalinka (No. 2) and Graf/Witt (No. 3) earned the victories. 

Steinert (No. 1) and Hierl (No. 2) earned victories in singles play as the match was played to decision. 

UW-Eau Claire had earned a 7-2 victory over UWL on April 11 in Eau Claire. In that match, the Blugolds swept the three doubles matches with both teams playing the same line-ups that competed on Saturday. 

UW-La Crosse 9, UW-Stout 0
Singles Competition
No. 1--Kimberly Steinert (LC) def. Lauren Couves (ST), 6-0, 6-1
No. 2--Hannah Riegle (LC) vs. Annie Sandry (ST), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3--Lauren Witt (LC) vs. Mariah Kent (ST), 6-0, 6-0
No. 4--Morgan Graf (LC) vs. Olivia Leipnitz (ST), 6-1, 6-1
No. 5--Susi Hu (LC) vs. Kyrstin Hanson (ST), 6-0, 6-0
No. 6--Katie Kearney (LC) vs. Madeline Binczak (ST), 6-0, 6-1
 
Doubles Competition
No. 1--Kimberly Steinert/Kellie Hierl (LC) def. Laurent Couves/Annie Sandry (ST), 8-4
No. 2--Hannah Riegle/Kaitlyn Kalinka (LC) vs. Mariah Kent/Olivia Leipnitz (ST), 8-1
No. 3--Morgan Graf/Laurent Witt (LC) vs. Kyrstin Hanson/Kylie Rennie (ST), 8-3

UW-La Crosse 5, UW-Eau Claire 2
Singles competition
1. Kimberly Steinert (UWL-W) def. Lindsey Henderson (UWEC-W) 6-0, 6-1
2. Kellie Hierl (UWL-W) def. Elaine Franta (UWEC-W) 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
3. Emily Cooper (UWEC-W) def. Hannah Riegle (UWL-W) 6-4, 6-2
4. Alexa Brooks (UWEC-W) vs. Lauren Witt (UWL-W) 7-5, 0-6, 2-3, unfinished
5. Morgan Nelson (UWEC-W) vs. Morgan Graf (UWL-W) 7-6 (7-4), 5-3, unfinished
6. Sydney Presler (UWEC-W) def. Susi Hu (UWL-W) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Kimberly Steinert/Kellie Hierl (UWL-W) def. Lindsey Henderson/Elaine Franta (UWEC-W) 8-5
2. Hannah Riegle/Kaitlyn Kalinka (UWL-W) def. Emily Cooper/Alexa Brooks (UWEC-W) 8-7 (7-4)
3. Morgan Graf/Lauren Witt (UWL-W) def. Morgan Nelson/Natalie Girard (UWEC-W) 8-3