MADISON, Wis. – In a tough match-up, Wisconsin drops a 5-2 decision to Nebraska at Nielsen. Despite another Big Ten loss, the Wisconsin women's tennis team (4-10, 0-5) demonstrates their will to fight in every match.

Four Badgers took their Nebraska opponents to three sets.

After dropping the first set, 6-2, junior Kelsey Grambeau rallied in the second set to overcome Nebraska's Paula Del Cueto, 6-4. Grambeau led 3-0 in the third set before Del Cueto retired, putting Wisconsin on the board with their first point of the dual.  

Freshman Melissa Pick displayed resilient effort at the bottom of the lineup. Despite a 6-3 loss in the first set, Pick was not ready to give up. She came back firing in the second and third sets to win the match, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Similarly, freshman Christina Zordani battled hard at the No. 6 position. After falling to Nebraska's Hayley Haakenstad in the first set, 6-1, she came back fighting to clinch the second set, 6-2. However, she was unable to outlast Haakenstad in the third set, falling 6-0.

Maria Avgerinos started strong and never gave up the fight at the No. 1 slot. She took the first set, 6-4. However, despite a vigorous battle, Nebraska's Vasanti Shinde fought back to the claim the second set and third sets, 6-3, 6-4.

The Badgers were unsuccessful on the doubles courts, dropping matches on courts two and three. Playing at the No. 2 position, Zordani and Sydney Rider held tight to fight back from behind at 3-2, but were unable surpass Nebraska's Lisa Andersson and Vasanti Shinde and ultimately dropped a 6-3 decision. At No. 3, the freshman duo of Melissa Pick and Michelle Linden never found their rhythm and fell to UNL's Claire Reifeis and Hayley Haaskenstad, 6-2.

UW will head to Michigan next weekend to face both the University of Michigan and Michigan State. The Badgers battle the Wolverines on Friday, March 31 at 5 p.m. (CT) and take on the Spartans on Sunday, April 2 at noon.

Results

Nebraska 5 – Wisconsin 2 

Singles:

1.     Vasanti Shinde (NEB) def. Maria Avgerinos (WIS), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
2.     Kelsey Grambeau (WIS) def. Paula Del Cueto (NEB), 2-6, 6-4, 3-0 (ret.)
3.     Claire Reifeis (NEB) def. Michelle Linden (WIS), 6-2, 6-1
4.     Mary Hanna (NEB) def. Sydney Rider (WIS), 6-1, 6-4
5.     Melissa Pick (WIS) def. Jeannie Lozowski (NEB), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
6.     Hayley Haakenstad (NEB) def. Christina Zordani (WIS), 6-1, 2-6, 6-0

Doubles:

1.     Hanna/Del Cueto (NEB) vs. Avgerinos/Grambeau (WIS), 5-3, unfinished
2.     Andersson/Shinde (NEB) def. Zordani/Rider (WIS), 6-3
3.     Reifeis/Haakenstad (NEB) def. Pick/Linden (WIS), 6-2