Women’s Tennis Reclaims The Crown
JACKSON, Wis. – The Falcons are again heading to the NCAA Division III Tournament! The Falcons rallied to defeat the Eagles of Edgewood in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament with a 5-3 victory to secure the automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament.
"There were two things that we stressed heading into this match," said head coach Steve Anschutz. "One was getting two points in doubles. With the talent on both teams, there is a good chance that you are going to split at three. So, getting that advantage in doubles was very important to us and we worked very hard at practice over the last two weeks getting prepared for it and we executed where we needed to, to get those two points. In singles, because both teams are so deep and talented everywhere, we didn't know where those three points would come from, so we stressed that players at the bottom or top, we needed players to perform well because we did not know where the points would come from. It was excellent to see the whole team come together and we were able to count on points from every position or at least fight and compete. I am really proud of these ladies and what they have done."
The Falcons drew first blood on Sunday at No. 1 doubles. The team of senior Ricki Budewitz (Watertown, Wis.) and junior Ashley Samuta (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) secured an 8-4 victory over Cecile Fuchs and Madelyn Connaughty.
The Eagles responded seconds later with an 8-4 victory at No. 2 doubles.
The team of senior Mia Andrae (Cedarburg, Wis.) and junior Mallory Moen (Neenah, Wis.) came out on top of a fierce battle at No. 3 doubles with an 8-6 victory over Evelyn Taylor and Ellie Murphy.
Things did not look good for the Falcons to open singles play. Edgewood took the first set on five courts and had all of the momentum.
The Eagles tied the match with a victory at No. 4 singles and then quickly snagged the lead with another victory at No. 1 singles.
The Falcons did not fold and started to flip the script.
After taking the first set over Evelyn Taylor at No. 3 singles, Mallory Moen ground out a 7-5 victory to tie the match.
Moments later, Ashley Samuta completed her comeback over Jewel Lindwall at No. 2 singles, with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.
All eyes quickly turned to the matches on the opposite side of the complex.
Freshman Peyton Morgan (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Mia Andrae both fell in tiebreakers in the first set, but neither quit.
Mia Andrae overwhelmed Maddy Coopmans in the second set at No. 5 singles with a 6-1 victory. The senior then clinched the title for the Falcons with a 6-1 victory to end the match.
With the victory, the Falcons are heading back to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2021.
Sunday marked the 11th time in program history that the Falcons have won the conference tournament title. CUW claimed the crown in 1994, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021 and now 2023.
The NCAA will announce the NCAA Division III Women's Tennis bracket on Monday.
