MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin women's tennis hadn't seen a season start 4-0 since 2012. Not any more.
Under second-year coaches
Kelcy McKenna and
Megan Falcon, the 2018 Badgers have matched that benchmark after a 7-0 victory over Northern Illinois on Thursday at Neilsen Tennis Stadium.
The sophomore duo of
Christina Zordani and
Michelle Linden got things going for Wisconsin, being the first doubles match to finish, knocking off Abigail Dekkinga and Brodie Walker, 6-2.
Not long after, the pair of freshman
Lexi Keberle and sophomore
Melissa Pick took down Maria Potsi and Lara Slisko, 6-4, securing the doubles point for Wisconsin.
Senior
Kelsey Grambeau, knowing the importance of an early victory, flew through her opponent, Slisko, 6-1, 6-1, to give Wisconsin a 2-0 lead.
Following suit, Keberle handled Potsi, 6-2, 6-1, propelling Wisconsin's lead to 3-0. The freshman is now 16-5 in her debut season, including a perfect 4-0 mark in dual play.
Clinching the Wisconsin victory was freshman
MaryAnn Rompf, who defeated Thisuri Molligoda, 6-3, 6-1.
Linden and Zordani weren't far behind, both taking their singles matches in straight sets.
Rounding out Wisconsin's 7-0 sweep was Pick, who defeated Dekkinga, 7-5, 6-3.
Up next: Wisconsin returns to Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 3 to take part in a doubleheader versus Bradley, at 10 a.m. (CT) and UW-Green Bay, at 3 p.m. (CT).
On-court action
Freshman MaryAnn Rompf
On the team's best start since 2012:
"I think we need to keep building on this momentum and bring it into this weekend and next weekend at National Indoors. That will be a great opportunity to play against the best teams in the nation."
On the team's performance:
"After winning the doubles point we really brought our energy into singles and fought hard. We really competed and communicated well out there together."
On steps going forward:
"We need to keep showing up to practice, working hard, keep pushing each other and coming out with energy to compete every time."
Wisconsin 7, Northern Illinois, 0
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Nielsen Tennis Stadium | Madison, Wis.
SINGLES
| #1 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Maria Potsi, Northern Illinois |
2 |
1 |
|
Order of finish: 2 |
| Lexi Keberle, Wisconsin |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
| #2 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Thisuri Molligoda, Northern Illinois |
3 |
1 |
|
Order of finish: 3 |
| MaryAnn Rompf, Wisconsin |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
| #3 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Lara Slisko, Northern Illinois |
1 |
1 |
|
Order of finish: 1 |
| Kelsey Grambeau, Wisconsin |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
| #4 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Abigail Dekkinga, Northern Illinois |
5 |
3 |
|
Order of finish: 6 |
| Melissa Pick, Wisconsin |
7 |
6 |
|
|
|
| #5 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Evelyn Yuel, Northern Illinois |
0 |
3 |
|
Order of finish: 4 |
| Michelle Linden, Wisconsin |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
| #6 SINGLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Brodie Walker, Northern Illinois |
3 |
3 |
|
Order of finish: 5 |
| Christina Zordani, Wisconsin |
6 |
6 |
|
|
|
DOUBLES
|
|
| #2 DOUBLES |
1 |
2 |
3 |
Notes |
| Maria Potsi/Lara Slisko, Northern Illinois |
4 |
|
|
Order of finish: 2 |
| Melissa Pick/Lexi Keberle, Wisconsin |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
