CHARLOTTE, NC- The Shaw University women's tennis returned to the CIAA Tennis Championships in hopes of dethroning the Chowan Hawks of their title. The Lady Bears clinched the 2015 CIAA Tennis Championship title on Saturday evening in a narrow 5-3 win over the Hawks.  With the win, the Lady Bears secured an appearance to the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region tournament, earning an automatic bid.

Shaw stands 18-2 after the win while the Hawks finish their season at 19-7.

In doubles action, the Lady Bears took two out of three matches against the Hawks to gain an early lead.  Ana Ruzir and Jessica Medina defeated Natalya Kamenshchikova and Victoria Smolchenkova 8-3 in the number one position. Gislaine Farias and Marilyne Kemegne topped Polina Novachuk and Jessica De Backre 8-5 in the number two spot.  Natalia Andrade and Jennifer Humphrey were credited with a win by forfeit in number the number three spot. 

Holding a 2-1 advantage heading into singles action, Andrade picked up a win over Halli Cooke in the number five position to knot the score 2-2.  Medina clipped Novachuk 7-5, 6-2 at the number two position while Farias toppled Smolchenkova 6-3, 6-1.  Chowan's Straffai Cleveland picked up a win by forfeit in the number six singles slot but it was not enough to overcome the deficit as Kamegne dropped De Backre 6-2, 6-2 to secure the championship win for Shaw.