Oct. 23, 2009

MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women's tennis team showed mixed results after the first two days of competition at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships in Evanston, Ill.

Although Jessica Seyferth and Hannah Berner each won their first qualifying singles match, they failed to advance to the main draw event.

Seyferth dominated Eastern Michigan's Marcela Rivero in a two-set shutout, winning 6-0, 6-0. However, Seyferth then fell in three sets to Ohio State's Gabby Steel with scores of 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.

After enjoying a first round bye, seventh-seeded Berner won her first match against Western Michigan's Jill Pastunink 6-2, 6-2. Berner was unable to produce another victory, falling to Illinois' Brianna Smutko 6-2, 6-1.

The Badgers competed in the main draw doubles event as well. Katya Mirnova and Hannah Berner lost in the main draw doubles event to Marisa Lampropoulos and Leigh Finnegan of Illinois by a score of 8-5.

Mirnova is scheduled to compete in the main draw singles event on Saturday when she faces Iowa's Lynn Poggensee-Wei.

Wisconsin also participated in the Alternate ITA Midwest Regional Championships, which includes both singles and doubles play and takes place in Champaign, Ill.

Angela Chupa and Aleksandra Markovic played together in doubles and won both of their matches. The duo first took down Shannon Brooks and Cara Huck of Eastern Illinois (8-2) before beating Iowa's Alexis Dorr and Ally Majercik (8-3) to advance to the semi-finals whey they will face Iowa's Kelcie Klockenga and Jessica Young.

Lauren Gruber and Kathleen Saltarelli also won their first match, defeating Amanda Dibbs and Juliana Frey of Eastern Illinois by a score of 8-3. Gruber and Saltarelli then lost 8-2 to the pair of Beelen and Chmelarova from Iowa. Although they did not advance, Gruber and Saltarelli play a consolation match on Saturday at 8 a.m. against Ingrid Ballus and Yuka Kobayashi of Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW).

All four Badgers won their singles matches. Saltarelli had a 6-2, 6-2 victory over IPFW's Ingrid Ballus. Gruber defeated Eastern Illinois' Amanda Dibbs 6-4, 6-0. Markovic beat Sara McLaughlin of Northern Illinois 6-0, 6-1. Chupa took down Bradley University's Jessica Buterbaugh 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles play kicks off tomorrow's tournament action at 8 a.m., with singles play to follow.