Women’s tennis aims for 17th league title

Haley Craig won in doubles with Mariana Palacios. Photo: Steve Woltmann

The Flames head for the Horizon League Championship Friday, looking to grab their 17th consecutive women’s tennis title.

The team (14-5, 6-1 HL) ended the regular season April 19 by defeating Valparaiso, 7-0, for the Horizon League regular season crown.

The win guarantees the Flames the No. 1 seed in the postseason tournament in Indianapolis.

UIC came out strong from the start to collect wins at all three doubles positions. Jana Knoppe and Kathryn Sharples, Natalia Kuvakina and Ann-Sophie Hahn and Haley Craig and Mariana Palacios collected doubles wins.

In singles, the Flames held the Crusaders to no more than one point at all six positions. Craig took a quick 6-0, 6-0 win at No. 1 and Hahn swept her opponent at No. 6. Palacios, Kuvakina, Knoppe and Sharples all won their singles matches.