Final Stats
Feb. 1, 2015
MADISON, Wis. -- Playing with a full lineup for the first time this year, the Wisconsin women's tennis team fought its way to a 5-2 victory over the visiting Eastern Michigan Eagles.
In number one singles, All-Big Ten junior Lauren Chypyha topped Klara Supejova, 6-1, 6-3, while the number one doubles pair of Lauren Burich and Kelsey Grambeau helped guide the Badgers to the doubles point.
After forfeiting a point last weekend against Drake, the Badgers were able to trot out a full lineup this weekend with Elizabeth Konan taking the number six spot in the singles lineup and pairing up with Sydney Rider for a victory in number three doubles.
That component of the match wasn't lost on head coach Tina Samara.
"Elizabeth on court six, first college match ever, threw her into the fire" Samara said. "She won the doubles point, that was huge having her out here. What they don't always realize is the fact that she stayed out on the court for a long time and didn't just get smoked, it's momentum in college tennis. You see your teammates winning and losing and people coming off and that changes how nervous you are and just her being able to push it that long really helped."
In addition to Chypyha's victory, Maria Avgerinos knocked off Andrea Martinovska in number three singles 6-2, 6-3 and Kelsey Grambeau defeated Maria Paula Ribero in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.
In the longest match of the day, which featured an electric atmosphere for the ending, Lauren Burich battled her way to a win over Maria Paula Ribero in a tiebreak. After splitting the first two sets 6-4, 5-7, Burich managed an 11-9 victory in the tiebreak, which has replaced the third set in the NCAA in matches that have already been decided.
"I think of how 'Burr' [Lauren Burich] gutted out that match." Samara started, "We had already won the match, but for her to still fight like that says a lot about where she's at with her commitment to getting better and making the program better. She's been working really hard and I think she won that because of that work ethic she's had."
The win was set up by a strong week of practice and some strong emotions on the court. Samara liked the emotional response from her team, saying "Absolutely, I like it. Even Sydney, she saved what seven or eight set points in that first? It's really easy in those moments to be like 'well I can't win it' but we didn't. It was definitely a great team effort today."
The Badgers will host Bowling Green and Marquette next weekend on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Both matches will be at Nielsen Tennis Stadium and are free to the public.
Wisconsin 5, Eastern Michigan 2
Feb. 1, 2015
Nielsen Tennis Center
Singles Results:
Lauren Chyphya def. Klara Supejova 6-1, 6-3
Ani Gogvadze def. Sydney Rider 7-6 (9), 6-4
Maria Avgerinos def. Andrea Martinovska 6-2, 6-3
Kelsey Grambeau def. Daphne Friedrichs 6-1, 6-2
Lauren Burich def. Maria Paula Ribero 6-4, 5-7, 1-0 (11-9)
Anna Veleva def. Elizabeth Konan (UW) 7-5, 6-4
Doubles Results:
Burich/Grambeau def. Supejova/Martinovska 6-4
Gogvadze/Ribero def. Avgerinos/Chypyha 6-4
Rider/Konan def. Barcelo/Friedrichs 6-4
