Feb. 28, 2015

Final Stats

NEW ORLEANS -- In the Wisconsin's women's tennis team's second road match in as many days and first match against a ranked opponent in No. 66 Tulane, the Badgers knew they would face a stiff challenge.

Coming off of an impressive 5-2 victory in poor conditions against UTEP in El Paso, Texas, the Badger women had to turn around and match up against a ranked team for the first time since last season's 4-3 loss in the Big Ten tournament against then-No. 65 Minnesota.

The Badgers played the Green Wave tough, but ultimately fell, 5-2, on Saturday at the City Park Pepsi Center. 

"It was disappointing for us not to come away with the win," head coach Tina Samara acknowledged, "but I was very pleased with the team's fight and how they battled until the last point. Playing outdoors requires better footwork than indoor matches, and we needed to do a better job of putting balls away at the net."

Wisconsin (5-3) started somewhat uncharacteristically, losing the doubles point for just the third time this season. 

But the Badgers wouldn't go down without a fight, taking two quick points in singles competition. 

On Court 1, Lauren Chypyha continued her undefeated start to the season by knocking off Tulane's Nicky Stracar in straight sets, 6-0, 6-4. Chypyha was the first player off the court, quickly winning her eighth match of the season.

The Badgers enjoyed a brief lead in the match, as the next player off was Lauren Burich, who topped the Green Wave's  Vanessa Nommensen, 6-4, 6-2 on Court . Burich is now 7-1 on the spring season and she improves to 4-0 playing at the No. 4 singles flight.

However, the Green Wave stormed back, taking matches on the remaining four courts to clinch the victory. 

"I have a lot of confidence in this group after the weekend" Samara added, "I really believe that we will continue to improve throughout the Big Ten season."

The Badgers will be back on the road next weekend, as they face Illinois State and Miami (Ohio) on March 7 and 8 in Oxford, Ohio.

Tulane 5, Wisconsin 2
Feb. 28, 2015
City Park Pepsi Tennis Center
Doubles:
No. 1 - Atkinson/Karagoz (TU) def. Grambeau/Burich (WIS), 6-3
No. 2 - Stracar/Nommensen (TU) def. Chypyha/Avgerinos (WIS), 6-2
No. 3 - Birol/Katz (TU) vs. Rider/Stepanova (WIS), 5-3, unfinished

Singles:
No. 1 - Lauren Chypyha (WIS) def. Nicky Stracar (TU), 6-0, 6-4
No. 2 - Ipek Birol (TU) def. Maria Avgerinos (WIS), 7-6(2), 7-6(6)
No. 3 - Naz Karagoz (TU) def. Sydney Rider (WIS), 7-6(2), 6-4 
No. 4 - Lauren Burich (WIS) def. Vanessa Nommensen (TU), 6-4, 6-2
No. 5 - Jacqui Katz (TU) def. Kelsey Grambeau (WIS), 6-2, 4-6, 6-0
No. 6 - Meredith Maltby (TU) def. Ekaterina Stepanova (WIS), 6-1, 4-6, 6-1