TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- The Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology women's tennis team secured the No. 3 seed for this week's Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with a 9-0 victory over Earlham College on Saturday at the Joy Hulbert Tennis Center.

The Fightin' Engineers cap the regular season at 9-2 overall and 5-2 in HCAC play.  Rose-Hulman and Earlham will meet again in the HCAC Tournament Opening Round match on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at West Indy Racquet Club, with the winner advancing to face Franklin on Saturday at 1 p.m.  The title match is scheduled for Sunday (Oct. 22) at 10 a.m.

Rose-Hulman relied on a fast start to earn the victory.  Anna Thompson and Naomi Bhagat picked up an 8-1 win at No. 1 doubles.  Bella Evans and Fanny-Jane Banda won 8-3 at No. 2 doubles; and Caroline Johnson joined Beata Barati for an 8-4 win at No. 3 doubles.  

In singles play, Thompson, Evans, Bhagat, Banda, Kyla Jarvis and Linde Schaffer each earned straight-set victories.  Evans and Johnson played their final regular season fall home match on Senior Day in the victory.

Rose-Hulman finished 5-2 in HCAC regular season matches, with only losses to Hanover and Franklin.  The winner of next week's HCAC Tournament receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament in May.