March 14, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- After being challenged by seven of the top teams in the country over the past few weeks, the Wisconsin women’s tennis team earned its first win over a ranked opponent in a 5-2 victory over No. 74 Miami-Ohio. Despite a tough loss against Big Ten foe, No. 1 Northwestern on Saturday, the Badgers were able to bounce back on Sunday for a weekend split. The win improves the Badgers’ season record to 5-9.
“It was nice to get our first win over a ranked opponent,” said head coach Brian Fleishman. “The past few weeks have given us the experience to get this win today. We will keep working hard as we prepare to go up against talented Big Ten teams.”
Wisconsin's last non-conference match of the season got off to an exciting start on Sunday. The Nos. 1 and 3 doubles spots finished quickly with a split outcome to rest the doubles point decision on the No. 2 spot where Jessica Seyferth and Kathleen Saltarelli faced off against Miami's Cara Wald and Riekie Honiball. The Badger duo held the lead most of the match but Miami was able to creep back to tie at five. Wisconsin was able to win the next game to go up 6-5, but the RedHawks were able to tie the score once again. Seyferth and Saltarelli didn't give up though eventually winning the match giving Wisconsin an early 1-0 lead.
The Badgers carried their early momentum into singles play where they earned two quick wins in the Nos. 5 and 6 spots with Alaina Trgovich and Aleksandra Markovic dominating their RedHawk opponents. Trgovich took on Miami’s Wald with a 6-3, 6-0 victory while Markovic defeated Sydnee Bridger 6-1, 6-3.
A 3-0 lead gave Wisconsin some breathing room but Miami fought back with wins in the Nos. 1 and 3 slots to tighten the score, 3-2.
Freshman Hannah Berner was able to earn the fourth win of the day to give Wisconsin its fifth victory of the season. Berner moved up again in the lineup competing in the No. 2 singles spot for the first time this year. She picked up her 10th win of the season against Stephanie Danesis . The first set proved to be a power struggle with several lead changes until Berner was able to pull ahead for the 6-4 win. Berner then kept control of the match with a quick 6-1 win in the second set.
Seyferth fell early in the first set, 6-0, in the No. 4 singles spot against Miami’s Riekie Honiball, but was able to persevere winning the second, 6-1. With the match decided, Seyferth and Honiball continued to battle in the lone third set of the day with Seyferth keeping an early lead to win, 6-2.
The Badgers get back on track with Big Ten play next Friday, March 19, where they take on No. 44 Illinois for their ninth ranked opponent of the season.
Julie McKay, UW Athletic Communications
Tennis Match Results
Miami (OH) vs Wisconsin
Mar 14, 2010 at MADISON, Wis.
(Nielsen Tennis Stadium)
Wisconsin 5, Miami (OH) 2
Singles competition
1. Anastasia Dracheva (MIAMI) def. Katya Mirnova (WIS) 6-1, 6-2
2. Hannah Berner (WIS) def. Stephanie Danesis (MIAMI) 6-4, 6-1
3. Megan Martzolf (MIAMI) def. Angela Chupa (WIS) 6-0, 6-4
4. Jessica Seyferth (WIS) def. Riekie Honiball (MIAMI) 0-6, 6-1, 6-2
5. Alaina Trgovich (WIS) def. Cara Wald (MIAMI) 6-2, 6-0
6. Aleksandra Markovic (WIS) def. Sydnee Bridger (MIAMI) 6-1, 6-3
Doubles competition
1. Stephanie Danesis/Megan Martzolf (MIAMI) def. Hannah Berner/Alaina Trgovich (WIS) 8-4
2. Kathleen Saltarelli/Jessica Seyferth (WIS) def. Cara Wald/Riekie Honiball (MIAMI) 8-6
3. Katya Mirnova/Angela Chupa (WIS) def. Anastasia Dracheva/Sydnee Bridger (MIAMI) 8-3
Match Notes:
Miami (OH) 5-4
Wisconsin 5-9
Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,3,1,2,4)
