The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women’s tennis team’s conference championship winning streak came to an end in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament final, losing to UW-La Crosse 4-3. The Warhawks had won their previous 17 conference championships.
The team delivered another dominant postseason performance in the tournament semifinal April 23, defeating UW-Stevens Point 4-0 to advance to its 18th-consecutive conference championship match.
The Warhawks set the tone early by sweeping all three doubles matches to secure the opening point. Their No. 1 duo, sophomore Abigail Weaver and senior Gracie Ha, led the charge with a decisive 6-1 victory, while graduate student Cassie Lee and sophomore Crystina Lee cliched the doubles point with a 6-3 win. Junior Alex Repplier and senior Molly Asfeld completed the doubles sweep with a 6-4 victory in the third flight.
Weaver emphasized the importance of that early momentum, noting how the team’s approach in doubles translated into success across the lineup.
“Coming out strong in doubles set the tone that we weren’t going back down and continued to fight in our singles matches,” Weaver said. “The energy was super high, and our team environment was strong and encouraging.”
Whitewater carried that energy into singles’ play, needing just three matches to secure the team’s victory. Freshman Kaitlyn Remke put the Warhawks on the board first, racing out to a 5-0 lead before her opponent retired.
The UW-Whitewater Warhawk women’s tennis sophomore Abigail Weaver goes to hit the ball back to her opponent during the WIAC conference semi-final at the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex, April 23, 2026.
(Charlie Clark)
Ha followed with a commanding performance at No. 2 singles, winning 6-1, 6-0 to give the Warhawks a 3-0 advantage. She credited consistency and discipline as key factors in her success.
“I kept telling myself to stay consistent in the wind and only go for the offensive shot when it was evident,” Ha said.
Crystina Lee sealed her match with another strong showing, winning 6-1, 6-0 to clinch the semifinal victory.
The early doubles point proved pivotal in setting the match’s trajectory, something Ha said remains a focal point for the team each time they step on the court.
“The doubles point is always so important in every match,” Ha said. “It gives us a boost going into singles, but we also need to make the quick turnaround and focus on our singles match because anything can happen.”
That ability to quickly reset has been a defining characteristic for the Warhawks throughout the season, especially in high-pressure postseason matches. The team’s depth and composure were evident as multiple players jumped out to early leads in singles competition before the overall result was decided.
Beyond the scoreline, the win carries additional meaning for the team as it builds momentum heading into the conference title match. Ha highlighted both the team’s mindset and the support from the crowd as key elements moving forward.
“We told ourselves to celebrate the win we had today, but tomorrow at practice we are right back to work because we aren’t done yet,” Ha said.
With the victory, UW-Whitewater advanced to face UW-La Crosse in the WIAC Championship, where the winner earned the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Warhawks fell to UW-La Crosse, 4-3.
Weaver and Ha won the No. 1 doubles, but the Eagles secured the first point of the day in the No. 2 and No. 3 doubles flights. They grabbed a second point in the No. 4 singles flight, but UW-W battled to win the next three flights and take a 3-2 lead. The Eagles took the final two flights of the afternoon to take the win.
The Warhawks are in unfamiliar territory as they now await a potential at-large bid into the NCAA postseason tournament.
The UW-Whitewater Warhawk women’s tennis sophomore Abigail Weaver and senior Gracie Ha celebrate as they win their doubles match in the WIAC conference semi-finals against UW-Stevens Point, April 23, 2026 at the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex.