Senior Michelle Tuma clinched the match with a win at No. 1 doubles as Ohio Northern defeated John Carroll 5-2 in the championship match of the 2015 Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Lindner Tennis Center.
The top-seeded Polar Bears improve to 20-3, while the second-seeded Blue Streaks end their season at 15-7.
ONU earns the OAC's automatic bid into the NCAA III Tournament next week. The date, site and opponent will be announced by the NCAA on Monday evening.
The tournament title was the sixth overall and the third in the last four seasons for the Polar Bears.
Northern was strong in doubles play, winning two of the three matches to take a 2-1 lead.
Junior Taryn Stromback and freshman Lynn Kelly won 8-4 at No. 3 doubles and senior Michelle Tuma and junior Meghan Letizia hung on for an 8-6 win at No. 2 doubles for ONU.
JCU won at No. 6 singles to tie the match at 2-2, but ONU quickly answered.
Junior Christina Corbean won 6-1, 6-3 at No. 3 singles and freshman Lynn Kelly won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 2 singles to give the Polar Bears a 4-2 lead.
Tuma clinched the match with a 7-6(5), 6-1 victory at No. 1 singles.
"I am very proud of the young ladies on our team," ONU head coach Scott Wills said. "We battled on every court and got the job done against a very tough John Carroll squad. Obviously a great team effort, and to see our senior Michelle get the championship-clinching match was special."
