March 23, 2014

Final Stats

MADISON, Wis. -- Two days after posting their first Big Ten win of the season, the Wisconsin women’s tennis team notched another milestone Sunday, knocking off No. 65 Iowa, 4-3, for the team’s first ranked win of the season. The Badgers improve to 7-4 on the season, including a mark of 2-1 in Big Ten play.

But it wasn’t easy. 

After dropping the doubles point to start the match, Samara pointed to the example the Wisconsin men’s basketball game the night before as inspiration. The basketball Badgers rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit Saturday night to beat Oregon and advance to the NCAA tournament Sweet 16.

Samara’s group would need a similar comeback.

“We came out really flat in doubles,” Samara admitted. “It wasn’t too competitive. But during the break I told them to look at men’s basketball yesterday and how they were down big at the half and came back to win. I told them we could totally turn it around and we came out way better in singles.

“I’m happy with the win and knocking off a ranked Iowa team. Everyone had to contribute in today’s match.”

As she has done all season, sophomore Lauren Chypyha set the tone for Wisconsin, knocking off No. 88-ranked player Ruth Seaborne, 6-4, 6-1. Not only did Chypyha capture her eleventh-straight win but it also marks her second win over a ranked foe and her third conference win this season.

Nova Patel also notched a straight-set win at No. 5 singles, defeating Ellen Silver, 6-3, 6-3.

The critical matches of the afternoon came down to courts 3 and 6 where Anastasia Tripolskaya and Becca Bailey were locked up in three-set battles with the match hanging in the balance.

At No. 6 singles, Bailey squeaked out 7-6 win over Aimee Tarun in the first set before getting blanked 6-0 in the second frame. Bailey would storm back in the third set and pull out the 6-4 win.

Tripolskaya would then clinch the match at No. 3 singles with late heroics of her own. The sophomore rallied from a first-set loss to knock off Shelby Talcott, 6-7, 6-1, 6-3.

“Nasty had a great job closing it,” Samara added. “Her opponent saved 2 or 3 match points at one point. And Becca was down 5-2 in the first and came back to win the set in a breaker. Everyone had a great first set.”

Lauren Burich fell short in her third set against Morven McCulloch, 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, in No. 2 singles.

Sydney Rider dropped a three-setter in No. 4 singles to Annette Dohanics, 1-6, 6-2, 6-2. 

In doubles action, Chypyha and Tripolskaya fell, 8-3, on court 1 to Ruth Seaborne and McCulloch. 

Bailey and Rider were also topped by Dohanics and Talcott in No. 3 doubles, 8-2.

Patel and Burich did not finish their match against Silver and Tarun in No. 2 doubles.

Up next, the Badgers host conference matches against Indiana at 3 p.m. (CT) on March 28 and Purdue at Noon on March 30 at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium. Admission is free. 

FINAL RESULTS
SINGLES
1. Lauren Chypyha (WIS) def. Ruth Seaborne (UI) – 6-4, 6-1
2. Morven McCulloch (UI) def. Lauren Burich (WIS) – 6-7, 7-6, 6-1
3. Anastasia Tripolskaya (WIS) def. Shelby Talcott (UI) – 6-7, 6-1, 6-3
4. Annette Dohanics (UI) def. Sydney Rider (WIS) – 1-6, 6-2, 6-2
5. Nova Patel (WIS) def. Ellen Silver (UI) – 6-3, 6-3
6. Becca Bailey (WIS) def. Aimee Tarun (UI) – 7-6, 0-6, 6-4
Order of Finish: (1, 5, 4, 6, 3, 2) 

DOUBLES
1. Ruth Seaborne/Morven McCulloch (UI) def. Lauren Chypyha / Anastasia Tripolskaya (WIS) – 8-3
2. Ellen Silver/Aimee Tarun (UI) def. Becca Bailey / Sydney Rider (WIS) - 8-2
3. Annette Dohanics/Shelby Talcott (UI) def. Nova Patel / Lauren Burich (WIS) – unfinished
Order of Finish: (1, 2, 3)