Whitewater, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's tennis finished second at the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship (presented by Culver's) Sunday afternoon after a 5-1 loss to UW-Whitewater. 

With the win, UW-Whitewater earns the league's automatic bid to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships. The Warhawks improve to 12-5 on the season. 
 

UWL finishes the year at 10-5.  The Eagles, the tournament's third-seed, defeated sixth-seeded UW-Stout by the score of 9-0 in Saturday's first round. UWL advanced to the championship match with a 5-2 victory over second-seeded UW-Eau Claire on Saturday.

UW-Whitewater, the top-seed for the league championships. won two of the three doubles matches on Sunday.  The Eagles' Kimberly Steinert/Kellie Hierl earned the victory at No. 1 doubles. 

Steinert was named to the 2021 All-WIAC Sportsmanship Team, chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It includes one member from each school. 

UW-Whitewater 5, UW-La Crosse 1
Singles Competition: 
1. Kasey Schlicht (UWW) vs. Kimberly Steinert (UWL), 3-6, 0-1, unfinished
2. Paige Nierman (UWW) def. Kellie Hierl (UWL), 6-1, 6-2
3. Olivia Kraft (UWW) vs. Hannah Reigle (UWL), 6-4, 3-2, unfinished
4. Sabrina Palavra (UWW) def. Lauren Witt (UWL), 6-1, 6-0
5. Molly Rueth (UWW) def. Morgan Graf (UWL), 6-4, 6-4
6. Jessica Minkov (UWW) vs. Susi Hu (UWL), 7-5, 1-0, unfinished

Doubles Competition:
1. Kimberly Steinert/Kellie Hierl (UWL) def. Kasey Schlicht/Sabrina Palavra (UWW), 8-6
2. Paige Nierman/Olivia Kraft (UWW) def. Hannah Riegle/Kaitlyn Kalinka (UWL), 8-4
3. Molly Rueth/Courtney Day (UWW) def. Lauren Witt/MorganGraf (UWL), 8-4