The Peacock tennis team reached the NSIC/US Bank Women's Tennis Championship match today for the first time in program history after defeating Minnesota State University Moorhead 5-0 in the semifinals on Saturday morning. 
 
Upper Iowa, the second seed, dropped a 5-1 decision to the top seed, Augustana College, in the finals to finish as the runner up in both the regular season and conference tournament.  UIU's record now stands at 15-6 on the season including a 10-1 mark during the NSIC regular season.
 
The tag team of Saki Kawabata and Iris Verweij went 2-0 on the day at #1 doubles.  The pair posted an 8-3 win against the Dragons best tandem and then avenged their only loss in the NSIC against the top duo of the Vikings in the championship match.  After Augie took a 2-1 lead through the doubles matches, the Vikings won the singles matches at #1, #5 and #6 to end the dual and claim the tournament title and the automatic qualifier for the NCAA Central Regional.
 
UIU shutout MSU Moorhead in the semifinal match thanks to a sweep in the doubles matches (8-3, 8-4, 8-2) and wins at #2 and #3 singles by Kawabata (6-3, 6-4) and Yamit Vodavoz (6-0, 6-2).  Only one other match had started and MSUM was winning that one at #1 when the dual ended.
 
Upper Iowa will now wait to see if they have done enough this season to be selected as one of the top four at-large teams in the NCAA's Central Region.  The NCAA women's tennis selections for this year's postseason will be announced on Tuesday, Apr. 28, at 7 p.m. (CT) at www.NCAA.com.
 
 
Upper Iowa 5, MSU Moorhead 0
Apr 26, 2015 at Minnetonka, Minn. (LifeTime Fitness) 
 

Doubles competition

1. Kawabata, Saki/Verweij, Iris (UIU) def. Smith, Morgan/Rognlien, Andrea (MSUM) 8-3

2. Vodavoz, Vicky/Kulbokas, Victoria (UIU) def. Wood, Ashley/Jones, Jessamy (MSUM) 8-4

3. Okolot, Anna/Jachymowski, Kelly (UIU) def. Smith, Cassie/Lukes, Rebecca (MSUM) 8-2

 

Singles competition

1. Verweij, Iris (UIU) vs. Rognlien, Andrea (MSUM) 6-3, 5-3, unfinished

2. Kawabata, Saki (UIU) def. Jones, Jessamy (MSUM) 6-3, 6-4

3. Vodavoz, Yamit (UIU) def. Smith, Morgan (MSUM) 6-0, 6-2

4. Wood, Ashley (MSUM) vs. Okolot, Anna (UIU) no result

5. Smith, Cassie (MSUM) vs. Vodavoz, Vicky (UIU) no result

6. Lukes, Rebecca (MSUM) vs. Jachymowski, Kelly (UIU) no result

Augustana 5, Upper Iowa 1 Apr 26, 2015 at Minnetonka, Minn. (LifeTime Fitness)    Doubles competition 1. Kawabata, Saki/Verweij, Iris (UIU) def. Richards, Jessa/Postal, Sydney (AUGIE) 8-6 2. Darr, Berkley/Sullivan, Heather (AUGIE) def. Vodavoz, Yamit/Kulbokas, Victoria (UIU) 8-4 3. Helleberg, Jenna/Lawrence, Meredith (AUGIE) def. Okolot, Anna/Jachymowski, Kelly (UIU) 8-2   Singles competition 1. Richards, Jessa (AUGIE) def. Verweij, Iris (UIU) 6-1, 6-2 2. Postal, Sydney (AUGIE) vs. Kawabata, Saki (UIU) 6-3, 4-2, unfinished 3. Darr, Berkley (AUGIE) vs. Vodavoz, Yamit (UIU) 7-5, 2-2, unfinished 4. Helleberg, Jenna (AUGIE) vs. Okolot, Anna (UIU) 6-4, 2-5, unfinished 5. Lawrence, Meredith (AUGIE) def. Kulbokas, Victoria (UIU) 6-0, 6-1 6. Sullivan, Heather (AUGIE) def. Jachymowski, Kelly (UIU) 6-0, 6-4