Wisconsin Badgers women's tennis player Kelsey Grambeau. (Photo by David Stluka)
David Stluka

Women's Tennis

Badgers fall to No. 9 Texas A&M

UW drops their second round matchup at the ITA Indoor Championship

Women's Tennis

Badgers fall to No. 9 Texas A&M

UW drops their second round matchup at the ITA Indoor Championship

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin suffered its second loss of the season at the hands of fifth-seeded Texas A&M on Saturday night, as the Aggies defeated the Badgers by a score of 4-0 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.  

On the doubles courts, the Badgers had their chances but couldn't quite hang on at the end. UW got out to a quick lead but eventually fell on courts one and two. Lauren Chypyha and Kendall Kirsch were knocked off by Rachel Pierson and Eva Paalma, 6-3. Meanwhile, Rutuja Bhosale and Anna Mamalat teamed up to take down the duo of Sydney Rider and Ekaterina Stepanova, 6-2, to give Texas A&M the doubles point. In addition, Lauren Burich and Kelsey Grambeau were in a tight match against Saska Gavrilovska and Domenica Gonzalez until the match came to a halt at 5-5.  

"I think in doubles today we had a matchup that we really felt we could've won," head coach Tina Samara said. "But unfortunately we had too many unforced errors, didn't stick to solid doubles choices, and made some poor choices which cost us."  

Following the doubles matches, the Badgers turned to singles to make up lost ground. Lauren Chypyha, Ekaterina Stepanova and Kelsey Grambeau all won their first sets and were in good position to win their matches, but unfortunately were unable to finish as Texas A&M took the other three matches to win 4-0.

"In singles, we were almost done with wins on courts one, two and five, so to not be able to get that fourth, which was definitely winnable, hurt," Samara added. "We need to stay out there longer and let some of our other players win their matches which help everybody including the program."

The 2016 ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship resumes Sunday morning at 9 a.m. (CT). The host Badgers will take the court at 3:30 p.m. against No. 30 Fresno State.  

Results
Wisconsin 0 – #9 Texas A&M 4

Doubles

1. Pierson / Paalma (TAMU) def. Lauren Chypyha / Kendall Kirsch (UW), 6-3
2. Bhosale / Mamalat (TAMU) def. Ekaterina Stepanova / Sydney Rider (TAMU), 6-2
3. Lauren Burich / Kelsey Grambeau (UW) vs. Gavrilovska / Gonzalez (TAMU), 5-5 (unfinished)

Singles
1. #66 Lauren Chypyha (UW) vs. #53 Saska Gavrilovska (TAMU), 6-4, 4-3 (unfinished)
2. Ekaterina Stepanova (UW) vs. #58 Rachel Pierson (TAMU), 7-5, 5-2 (unfinished)
3. Eva Paalma (TAMU) def. Kendall Kirsch (UW), 6-3, 6-1
4. Domenica Gonzalez (TAMU) def. Maria Avgerinos (TAMU), 6-1, 6-1
5. Kelsey Grambeau (UW) vs. Ines Deheza (TAMU), 6-4, 5-3 (unfinished) 
6. Anna Mamalat (UW) def. Sydney Rider (UW), 6-3, 6-4
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Players Mentioned

Maria Avgerinos

Maria Avgerinos

5' 7"
Junior
Lauren Burich

Lauren Burich

5' 9"
Senior
Lauren Chypyha

Lauren Chypyha

5' 11"
Senior
Kelsey Grambeau

Kelsey Grambeau

5' 6"
Sophomore
Kendall Kirsch

Kendall Kirsch

5' 8"
Freshman
Sydney Rider

Sydney Rider

5' 8"
Junior
Ekaterina Stepanova

Ekaterina Stepanova

5' 10"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Maria Avgerinos

Maria Avgerinos

5' 7"
Junior
Lauren Burich

Lauren Burich

5' 9"
Senior
Lauren Chypyha

Lauren Chypyha

5' 11"
Senior
Kelsey Grambeau

Kelsey Grambeau

5' 6"
Sophomore
Kendall Kirsch

Kendall Kirsch

5' 8"
Freshman
Sydney Rider

Sydney Rider

5' 8"
Junior
Ekaterina Stepanova

Ekaterina Stepanova

5' 10"
Sophomore