FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

GLEN ELLYN, Ill. (Apr. 29, 2009)--  The North Central College women's tennis team closed out its spring season on Wednesday, falling 8-1 to regional power Wheaton College in the first round of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Automatic Qualifier Tournament.

In doubles, the No. 1 tandem of Cory Schillerstrom and Alicia DeGrado suffered an 8-5 defeat at the hands of Brittany Dunn and Kayli Edwards while at No. 2, Ali Paschold and Christine Heyd dropped an 8-3 decision to Elizabeth Worsowicz and Lindsey Hallett.

DeGrado netted the team's lone victory of the day, knocking off Dunn, 6-4, 6-1 in No. 2 singles. Erica Pang put a tough fight at No. 6 singles, falling 6-3, 6-2 to Krista Larson while in No. 1 action, Schillerstrom fell 6-0, 6-2 to Worsowicz.

North Central qualified for the CCIW AQ Tournament by virtue of its finish at the CCIW Championships in the fall, finishing among the top four for the second consecutive season.

The Cardinals conclude the season with an 11-8 record on the season while the Thunder, ranked seventh in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, advance to the CCIW AQ Tournament Finals where they will look to secure the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.