HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Northern Kentucky women's tennis will make its first appearance in the Horizon League Women's Tennis Championship, and just its second postseason appearance since transitioning to Division I, when the Norse take on No. 3-seeded Cleveland State in the first round on Friday, April 27. First serve against the Vikings is set for 11 a.m. ET on the campus of Purdue, and the winner will advance to play No. 2 Youngstown State on Saturday, April 28. All matches of the Horizon League Championship will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
The Norse earned the No. 6 seed into the tournament, clinching the berth last Saturday with a 4-3 win over Detroit Mercy. Hannah Watton provided the Norse with the final point in an emotional win, trailing 5-2 in the third set before rattling off five-straight games to win the No. 5 singles match and send the Norse into the postseason. On Wednesday afternoon, Watton was honored as the Horizon League's Herb Foster Sportsmanship Award winner, while Margita Sunjic repeated as the League's Player of the Year and Maria Koo was named to the All-Horizon League Second Team.  
 
Cleveland State closed out the Horizon League regular season with a 7-2 record. The only two losses were to top seeds UIC and Youngstown State, but the Flames and Penguins handily won in those meetings, blanking the Vikings 7-0. Isabella Spindler sits atop the CSU lineup, earning All-Horizon League First Team distinction after going 7-2. She also appears in CSU's top doubles lineup with Aleksandra Golawska, and the pair posted a 4-3 record in No. 1 doubles.
 
For more information on NKU men's and women's tennis program, follow the team on Twitter @NKUNorseTennis or at facebook.com/nkunorsetennis.