TOPEKA, Kan. – The No. 16-ranked Northeastern State women's tennis team defeated Washburn 8-1 Friday afternoon at Washburn Tennis Complex.
 
The victory clinched at least a share of the 2016 MIAA Regular Season Championship for the RiverHawks (15-2, 9-0 MIAA), who have now won the conference title each of the last three years. NSU also clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the 2016 MIAA Championship tournament, which will be held April 29-May 1 at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Missouri.
 
The win over the Ichabods (8-9, 3-4 MIAA) extended Northeastern State's overall win streak to 11 matches, and the green and white has also now won 28 consecutive regular-season bouts against league opponents.
 
The day began with a doubles sweep for the RiverHawks. Senior Patricia Husakova and sophomore Molly Worden teamed up at the top of the lineup to take down Jodie Blackim and Ally Burr by an 8-5 margin. Junior Valeriia Efimenko and true freshman Karla Tomaic defeated Gwen Shepler and Maggie Plum 8-4 from the second court. The sophomore tandem of Daria Panferova and Easton Parker completed the sweep with an 8-4 triumph over MaKenna Gonzales and Laura Shkembi at the third flight.
 
Worden quickly took down Whitney Holloman by a convincing 6-0, 6-0 score on the fourth court to begin singles action. Efimenko clinched the conference championship by defeating Plum 6-1, 6-2 at the third position. Panferova was next off with an identical 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Blackim from the second spot in the lineup.
 
Tomaic added a sixth point by defeating Jennifer Krause 6-2, 6-3 from the fifth court, and Husakova defeated Shkembi 6-2, 6-2 at the top of the card.
 
WU's lone point came with the final decision of the day, when Shepler defeated Parker in a third-set super tiebreaker 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5).
 
Northeastern State is set to close out regular-season conference play against Emporia State at 1 p.m. April 16 in Emporia, Kansas. A victory over the Hornets would clinch the regular season conference championship outright for NSU.
 
Tennis Match Results
Apr 15, 2016 at Topeka, Kan.
(Washburn Tennis Complex)
 
#16 Northeastern State 8, Washburn 1
 
Singles Competition
1. #32 Patricia Husakova (NSU) def. Laura Shkembi (WU) 6-2, 6-2
2. Daria Panferova (NSU) def. Jodie Blackim (WU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Valeriia Efimenko (NSU) def. Maggie Plum (WU) 6-1, 6-2
4. Molly Worden (NSU) def. Whitney Holloman (WU) 6-0, 6-0
5. Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Jennifer Krause (WU) 6-2, 6-3
6. Gwen Shepler (WU) def. Easton Parker (NSU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5)
 
Doubles Competition
1. Patricia Husakova/Molly Worden (NSU) def. Jodie Blackim/Ally Burr (WU) 8-5
2. Valeriia Efimenko/Karla Tomaic (NSU) def. Gwen Shepler/Maggie Plum (WU) 8-4
3. Daria Panferova/Easton Parker (NSU) def. MaKenna Gonzales/Laura Shkembi (WU) 8-4
 
Match Notes
Northeastern State 15-2 (9-0 MIAA); National ranking #16
Washburn 8-9 (3-4 MIAA)
Order of finish: Doubles (2,1,3); Singles (4,3,2,5,1,6)
 
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