Jan. 17, 2010
MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin women’s tennis team opened up its 2010 season in strong fashion on Sunday sweeping Northern Illinois, 7-0.
“I thought we as a team performed pretty well today, consistently one through seven,” head coach Brian Fleishman said.
The Badgers began the match by dominating all three doubles matches to pick up the doubles point.
The duos of Katya Mirnova and Alaina Trgovich, and Angela Chupa and Aleksandra Markovic deafeted their opponents by scores of 8-1. Kathleen Saltarelli and Hannah Berner shut out NIU’s Kathryn Friedlund and Sara McLaughlin, 8-0.
“I think we came out with a great start in doubles,” Fleishman said. “I think all three teams played well enough to get the job done by playing with a lot of confidence and hitting a lot of balls. At this point, I think we’re off to a good start.”
Seated in the first slot, co-captain Mirnova beat Friedlund in singles play 6-1, 6-1. Freshmen Hannah Berner won in the second slot against Rogers, 6-1, 6-0.
Markovic continued her strong play from the fall season as she defeated Martina Schnapp by scores of 6-0, 6-1. After sitting out the fall season due to injury, Trgovich returned to earn a victory against Kelly Phillips 6-3, 6-3.
Additionally, Chupa won 6-0, 6-1 in her singles match against McLaughlin. Newcomers Saltarelli and Lauren Gruber defeated their opponents in singles play by scores of 6-3, 6-1 and 6-1, 6-0, respectively.
“In singles I think it’s going to be a matter of time before we come up to somebody that is going to push us and test us,” Fleishman said. “Then we’ll see actually where we stand as a team and I think each match is going to be a new test for us.”
Co-captain Jessica Seyferth did not compete Saturday due to injury. However, she is expected to return to the lineup next week.
Next weekend marks the beginning of intense play for the Badgers as they take on Illinois-Chicago and UW-Green Bay beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday. UW will then play host to Notre Dame at 12 p.m. on Sunday. All matches will be held in the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wis.
