MARION, Ind. -- The Indiana Wesleyan University women's tennis team won the NCCAA National Championship with a 5-4 victory over Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) University on Thursday at the Howard County Indoor Tennis Center.

The Wildcats earned their second straight NCCAA national championship and the fourth in six years.

Indiana Wesleyan earned the victory in the third set and final set in the tournament. The women's championship match lasted for over five hours as the two teams battled to the final possible set.

Indiana Wesleyan advanced to the NCCAA semifinals after completing a 2-1 record in pool play. IWU split their two matches on Tuesday with a 5-1 loss to Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) University and a 5-0 victory against Cedarville (Ohio) University.

On Wednesday, the Wildcats clinched a spot in the semifinals with a 5-0 win over North Greenville (S.C.) University to earn the No. 2-spot in their pool.

Wednesday night, Indiana Wesleyan defeated Dallas Baptist (Texas) University, previously unbeaten in the tournament, by a 5-2 score in the national semifinal.