Results

WILMINGTON, N.C. - The Badgers saved their best for last at the UNC-Wilmington Seahawk Invite as they took on the host school in doubles play and Campbell in singles action. UW won all three doubles matches and claimed victory on seven of eight singles courts.

In doubles action, UW swept UNC-Wilmington to top off their impressive weekend of doubles action. Lauren Burich and Kendall Kirsch won their third match in as many days by taking down Hollie Champion and Sabrina Barisano, 6-4. Sydney Rider and Ekaterina Stepanova rebounded from Saturday's tough loss by defeating Christine Kharkevitch and Laura Gomez by a score of 7-5. Maria Avgerinos and Kelsey Grambeau also teamed up to outlast Madara Straume and Annika Sillanpa in a close match by the score of 7-6 (6).

The Badgers also looked strong on the singles courts against Campbell. Sophomore Ekaterina Stepanova and freshman Kendall Kirsch capped off a perfect 3-0 weekend with straight-set Sunday victories. Stepanova topped Maud Mrad, 6-4, 6-4 while Kirsch bested Nina Asanin, 6-2, 6-2.

Senior Lauren Burich claimed a decisive victory over Ana Maria Ortiz, 6-1, 6-0. Juniors Maria Avgerinos and Sydney Rider picked up wins for Wisconsin by taking down Irina Karangozishvili and Georgina Segarra, 6-2, 6-2, and 6-2, 6-1, respectively. Kelsey Grambeau and Caroline Hall also picked up victories for the Badgers over Campbell.

"I was happy to see the team go into the third day of this event with better energy from the first point of the match," said Samara. "Today we finally went out on each court and worked on the things we needed to. This is what has to happen in these fall events for us to be ready for the regionals and the spring 2016 season."

Next up for the Badgers is the Milwaukee Classic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin beginning September 18, 2015.

Results - Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015
Wisconsin vs. UNC-Wilmington (Doubles)
Lauren Burich - Kendall Kirsch (UW) d. Hollie Champion-Sabrina Barisano (UNCW), 6-4
Sydney Rider - Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) d. Christine Kharkevitch-Laura Gomez (UNCW), 7-5
Maria Avgerinos - Kelsey Grambeau (UW) d. Madara Straume-Annika Sillanpaa (UNCW), 7-6 (6)

Wisconsin vs. Campbell (Singles)
Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) d. Maud Mrad (C), 6-4, 6-4
Maria Avgerinos (UW) d. Irina Karangozishvili (C), 6-2, 6-2
Kendall Kirsch (UW) d. Nina Asanin (C), 6-2, 6-2
Sydney Rider (UW) d. Georgina Segarra (C), 6-2, 6-1
Lauren Burich (UW) d. Ana Maria Ortiz (C), 6-1, 6-0
Claire Bedi (C) d. Nathalie Joanlanne (UW), 4-6, 6-2, 11-9
Kelsey Grambeau (UW) d. Ewa Telenga (C), 6-4, 2-6, 10-7
Caroline Hall (UW) d. Georgia Dobell (C), 6-3, 6-0
 

Sept. 12, 2015

In day two of action at the UNC-Wilmington Seahawk Invitational, the Badger women's tennis team took on East Tennessee State in doubles action before facing UNC-Wilmington on singles courts.

Following their impressive day on the doubles court Friday, the Badgers won two out of three matches Saturday. Lauren Burich and Kendall Kirsch won their second match of the year together by taking down Marina Guinart and Ioanna Markesini of ETSU, 6-3. Maria Avgerinos picked up another doubles victory for UW as well, this time paired up with freshman, Nathalie Joanlanne, by defeating Regina Nuchytailova and Yi Chi Ma by a score of 6-4.

In singles action, the Badgers took five of seven matches from host UNC-Wilmington and took the Seahawks to three sets in each of the two losses. Sophomore Ekaterina Stepanova and freshman Kendall Kirsch continued their winning ways from Friday, cruising to straight-set wins. Stepanova dispatched Madara Straume, 6-1, 6-3 and Kirsch walked over Laura Gomez, 6-1, 6-2.

Junior Sydney Rider claimed her first victory of the season, coming from behind and out-lasting Christine Kharkevitch in a three-set thriller, 4-6, 7-5, 11-9. Senior Lauren Burich topped Sabrina Barisano, 6-2, 7-6 (3) while freshman Nathalie Joanlanne posted her first collegiate win, defeating Hollie Champion, 6-2, 6-4.

UW will wrap up the Seahawk Invitational on Sunday with doubles matches against UNC-Wilmington beginning at 7 am (CT) and doubles matches vs. Campbell at 8 am (CT).

Results - Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015
Wisconsin vs. ETSU (Doubles)
Lyn Yee Choo - Ana Gerbasi (ETSU) d. Sydney Rider - Ekaterina Stepanova (UW), 7-5
Lauren Burich - Kendall Kirsch (UW) d. Melissa Esguerra - Ioanna Markesini (ETSU), 6-3
Maria Avgerinos - Nathalie Joanlanne (UW) d. Regina Nychytailova - Yi Chi Ma (ETSU), 6-4

Wisconsin vs. UNC-Wilmington (Singles)
Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) d. Madara Straume (UNCW), 6-1, 6-3
Annika Sillanpaa (UNCW) d. Maria Avgerinos (UW), 6-1, 4-6, 10-5
Kendall Kirsch (UW) d. Laura Gomez (UNCW), 6-1, 6-2
Sydney Rider (UW) d. Christine Kharkevitch (UNCW), 4-6, 7-5, 11-9
Lauren Burich (UW) d. Sabrina Barisano (UNCW), 6-2, 7-6 (3)
Nathalie Joanlanne (UW) d. Hollie Champion (UNCW), 6-2, 6-4
Alix Theodossiou (UNCW) d. Kelsey Grambeau (UW), 5-7, 6-4, 11-9
 

Sept. 11, 2015

The Badger women opened their 2015-16 season by traveling to North Carolina for the UNC-Wilmington Seahawk Invite on Sept. 11. In their first look at competition for the year, UW took four of eight singles matches against East Tennessee State and took three of four doubles matches against Campbell.

"We're happy to get the first matches of the season out of the way," said Samara. "There was definitely some rust but that was to be expected. We were happy that after an average round of singles, we were able to bounce back and take care of the doubles matches next round."

Junior Maria Avgerinos led the way with a convincing win over Regina Nychytailova, 6-1, 6-0. Meanwhile, freshmen Kendall Kirsch and Caroline Hall each picked up their first-career victories over Ioanna Markesini and Jayde Viccars, 7-6 (5), 6-2, and 6-4, 6-0, respectively.

Ekaterina Stepanova also picked up a victory for the Badgers by defeating Lynn Yee Choo, 6-4, 6-4. Stepanova also paired with Sydney Rider to pick up a doubles victory by knocking off Irina Karangozishvili and Nina Asanin of Campbell, 6-1.

In other doubles action, senior Lauren Burich teamed up with Kirsch to defeat Maud Mrad and Georgina Segarra by a score of 6-3. Kelsey Grambeau and Maria Avgerinos also came out victorious for UW by taking down Claire Bedi and Isabel Boada, 6-0.

"We need to take what we learned from today and apply the things we've worked on in practice," Samara added. "These fall tournaments are to prepare us for the regional tournament in October and the extremely competitive spring schedule we have."

The Badgers will take the court again Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (CT) to take on East Tennessee State in doubles, followed by singles matches at 11 a.m. (CT) against the Seahawks of UNC-Wilmington.
 

Results - Friday, Sept. 11, 2015
Wisconsin vs. ETSU (Singles)
Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) d. Lynn Yee Choo (ETSU), 6-4, 6-3
Maria Avgerinos (UW) d. Regina Nychytailova (ETSU), 6-1, 6-0
Marina Espana (ETSU) d. Sydney Rider (UW), 6-3, 6-0
Kendall Kirsch (UW) d. Ioanna Markesini (ETSU), 7-6 (5), 6-2
Melissa Esguerra (ETSU) d. Lauren Burich (UW), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
Ana Gerbasi (ETSU) d. Kelsey Grambeau (UW), 7-6 (10), 3-6, 6-0
Yi Chi Ma (ETSU) d. Nathalie Joanlanne (UW), 3-6, 6-2, 6-0
Caroline Hall (UW) d. Jayde Viccars (ETSU), 6-4, 6-0

Wisconsin vs. Campbell (Doubles)
Sydney Rider - Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) d. Irina Karangozishvili-Nina Asanin (C), 6-1
Lauren Burich - Kendall Kirsch (UW) d. Maud Mrad-Georgina Segarra (C), 6-3
Kelsey Grambeau - Maria Avgerinos (UW) d. Claire Bedi-Isabel Boada (C), 6-0
Ana Maria Ortiz-Ewa Telenga (C) d. Caroline Hall - Nathalie Joanlanne (UW), 6-4