March 10, 2010

MADISON, Wis. – The Badgers broke a three-match skid by dominating Marquette in a 6-1 victory over the Golden Eagles Wednesday evening. With the win, the Badgers (8-4) remain unblemished at home with a 7-0 record at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

“It definitely feels good to get a win and get this team back on track from where we want to go this year,” Head Coach Greg Van Emburgh said.

“You always want to feel good going into the conference season. Marquette is a solid team and they put up a great fight for us tonight.”

The No. 38-ranked Wisconsin Badgers got off to a quick lead by snatching the doubles point over Marquette. 
 
Senior Michael Dierberger and freshman Ricardo Martin set the tone for the Badgers with a swift 8-1 victory over Niko Boulieris and Octavio Perim.
 
Senior Moritz Baumann paired up with sophomore Patrick Pohlmann to finish next for Wisconsin at the No. 1 doubles position. The duo followed suit with an 8-1 victory over Jacob Straus and Dusan Medan to secure the doubles point.
 
At the No. 2 position, senior Luke Rassow-Kantor and junior Marek Michalicka fell to Mark Rutherford and Jonathan Schwerin in a close 8-4 match.

“Doubles is one of the key elements to our season,” Van Emburgh said. “We want to make sure that when we go out on the doubles court to play that first match, we are ready to play and take that first point. We’re definitely making progress and getting there.”

The Badgers compounded their doubles point by claiming five of the six singles matches.

Wisconsin saw wins from No. 21-ranked Michalicka who played at the No. 1 singles spot for the fourth time this season. The senior continued his undefeated singles record to 9-0 by taking out No. 84-ranked Medan 6-3, 6-4. 

No. 13 Baumann also had a clean 6-2, 6-4 victory over Rutherford in the No. 2 slot. Pohlmann played at the No. 3 position to defeat Boulieris 6-4, 7-5.

Billy Bertha dug deep against his opponent to pull out a tough three-set victory over Straus at the No. 5 spot. Wisconsin also saw an easy 6-4, 6-3 win from freshman Chris Freeman over Jonathan Schwerin.

Although Dierberger battled back to a tiebreak from a 2-5 deficit in the third set, he eventually fell to Perim in a tough 5-7, 6-2, 6-7 (7-4) match.

In four days the Badgers are back in action with a doubleheader against No. 70-ranked Illinois State and Western Illinois. These are the last two dual matches before the Badgers begin Big Ten Conference competition against Illinois on March 21.

 “It was definitely a match I feel we can build on with the intensity factor and momentum factor trying to get into our conference season against Illinios,” Van Emburgh said.

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By Megan S. Kelley
Wisconsin Athletic Communications

Tennis Match Results
Marquette vs Wisconsin
Mar 10, 2010 at Madison, Wis.
(Nielsen Tennis Stadium)

#38 Wisconsin 6, Marquette 1

Singles competition
1. #21 Marek Michalicka (WIS) def. #84 Dusan Medan (MAR) 6-3, 6-4
2. #13 Moritz Baumann (WIS) def. Mark Rutherford (MAR) 6-2, 6-4
3. Patrick Pohlmann (WIS) def. Niko Boulieris (MAR) 6-4, 7-5
4. Billy Bertha (WIS) def. Jacob Straus (MAR) 6-3 (7-3), 7-6
5. Otavio Perim (MAR) def. Michael Dierberger (WIS) 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4)
6. Chris Freeman (WIS) def. Jonathan Schwerin (MAR) 6-4, 6-3

Doubles competition
1. Moritz Baumann/Patrick Pohlmann (WIS) def. Jacob Straus/Dusan Medan (MAR) 8-1
2. Mark Rutherford/Jonathan Schwerin (MAR) def. Luke Rassow-Kantor/Marek Michalicka (WIS) 8-4
3. Ricardo Martin/Michael Dierberger (WIS) def. Niko Boulieris/Otavio Perim (MAR) 8-1

Match Notes:
Marquette 11-2
Wisconsin 7-4; National ranking #38
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (6,2,1,3,4,5)