ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The William Woods University women's tennis team, sponsored by Fulton Medical Center, won its third straight AMC/Heart of America Unaffiliated Group Tournament on Saturday afternoon.
 
With the win the Owls improve to 16-6 on the season. With the win of the tournament, the Owls have clinched an automatic berth to the NAIA Women's Tennis National Championship in Mobile, Alabama. Nationals will start on May 15th and run through May 19th.
 
Results from today's match can be found below.
 
"It's a great day to be an Owl," remarked head coach Justin Stuckey. "I couldn't be prouder of our girls for how hard they fought today. We played a very strong Missouri Baptist team today. We executed all our poaches in doubles and once we got the 3-0 lead we didn't let up as we went into singles. It's very hard to win a conference championship let alone 3 straight times. We will enjoy today and then start to prepare for the national championships in 2 weeks."
 
The Owls got off to a fast start in the championship match as they took all three doubles points Felicia Cesar and Chelsea Steward came away with the first point with an 8-0 victory in No. 2 doubles. The third doubles team of Abigail Lemberger and Karyna Sagalai won 8-2. The third point was a hard-fought victory in No. 1 doubles as Zlata Shuraeva and Ana Zavala battled but defeated Tamara Klimek and Krista Tyson, 9-7.
 
Needing only two points in singles, the Owls finished the match quickly as Chelsea Steward got the Owls its fourth point of the day with a straight set, 6-0, 6-0 victory over Rafaela Davide in No. 6 singles.
 
Clinching the match for the Owls was Felicia Cesar. Cesar came away with a 6-2, 6-0 victory giving the Owls its third straight AMC/Heart of America Conference Championship.
 
The Owls return to action on May 15th at the NAIA National Championships. They will have to wait to see who they will play.
 
Results
Singles
1. Tamara Klimek (MBU) vs. Karyna Sagalai (WWU) no result
2. Thais Castiglioni (MBU) vs. Julia Perez Wienese (WWU) no result
3. Krista Tyson (MBU) vs. Zlata Shuraeva (WWU) no result
4. Dani Stevenson (MBU) vs. Ana Zavala (WWU) no result
5. Felicia Cesar (WWU) def. Emily Brown (MBU) 6-2, 6-0
6. Chelsea Steward (WWU) def. Rafaela Davide (MBU) 6-0, 6-0
 
Doubles
1. Zlata Shuraeva/Ana Zavala (WWU) def. Tamara Klimek/Krista Tyson (MBU) 9-7
2. Felicia Cesar/Chelsea Steward (WWU) def. Dani Stevenson/Emily Brown (MBU) 8-0
3. Abigail Lemberger/Karyna Sagalai (WWU) def. Thais Castiglioni/Rafaela Davide (MBU) 8-2