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For the fourth consecutive year, the Wilkes University women's tennis team claimed the Freedom Conference Team Championship and will represent the university in the upcoming NCAA National Tournament.

The Lady Colonels downed Misericordia for the second-straight year in the finals, 5-0 and the victory marked the 32nd-straight win over a Freedom Conference opponent.

Wilkes breezed through both the singles and doubles competition, losing a combined one game in the two deciding singles matches and six games in the three doubles contests. The duo of Michelle Knight (Roaming Shores, OH/Trinity) and Xiaoqiao Zhang (Zhengzhou City, China/Warren Hills (N.J.)) were the first to finish doubles after their 8-1 win over Jennifer Spott and Lauren Verret at the No. 3 position. Alexis Donner (Belmar, NJ/Wall) and Katrina Lynn were next to finish after their 8-1 triumph over Maura Haupt and Courtney Otto at the No. 2 spot. Victoria Bybel (Lancaster/Lancaster Mennonite) and Melanie Nolt (Manheim, PA/Manheim Central) finished the doubles sweep with an 8-4 victory over Ashley Mangabang and Abby Searfoss at the top spot.

Already leading 3-0, the Lady Colonels needed just two singles victories to clinch the match. Zhang, the only senior on the Wilkes roster, was the first to finish, winning 6-1, 6-0 over Verret at the No. 5 spot before Nolt ended the contest with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at the No. 1 position.

Nolt was named the 2010 Freedom Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player and did not lose a singles match in conference play all season.

The Lady Colonels will now await their opponent in the NCAA Championships, which will be determined on Monday night.