MADISON, Wis. – It was a tough first day at the ITA National Indoor Championships for the Wisconsin women's tennis team. Fighting hard, Wisconsin ultimately was defeated by No. 8 seeded Florida, 4-0.
 
Going down in three straight matches of straight set defeats, Wisconsin showed high energy, but came up short in singles play.
 
In doubles competition, the Florida duo of McCartney Kessler and Josie Kuhlman finished first, knocking off freshman Lexi Keberle and sophomore Melissa Pick, 6-1.
 
Clinching the point for the Gators was the  pair of Anna Danilina and Victoria Emma, proving too much for the duo of senior Kelsey Grambeau and freshman MaryAnn Rompf, winning the set, 6-4. 
 
Keberle and Rompf had difficult matches in front of them; Keberle faced off against No. 7 Danilina while Rompf took on No. 50 Kuhlman.
 
The loss ends Wisconsin's perfect 6-0 start, the program's best start in over thirty years.
 
Up next: The Badgers return to Nielsen Saturday, Feb. 10 to continue the ITA National Championships. They are set to play Wake Forest at 6:30 p.m. (CT).
 
SINGLES
 
No. 1: Anna Danilina (FLA) vs. Alexis Keberle (WISC) 6-2, 4-2, unfinished
No. 2: Josie Kuhlman (FLA) def. Maryann Rompf (WISC) 6-2, 6-0
No. 3: Victoria Emma (FLA) def. Kelsey Grambeau (WISC) 6-3, 6-2
No. 4: McCartney Kessler (FLA) def. Melissa Pick (WISC) 6-1, 6-2
No. 5: Peggy Porter (FLA) def. Michelle Linden (WISC) 6-0, 6-0
No. 6: Katie Kubicz (FLA) vs. Christina Zordani (WISC) 7-6 (1), 2-0, unfinished
 
DOUBLES
 
No. 1: Anna Danilina/Victoria Emma (FLA) def. Kelsey Grambeau/Maryann Rompf (WISC) 6-4 No. 2: Josie Kuhlman/McCartney Kessler (FLA) def. Melissa Pick/Alexis Keberle (WISC) 6-1
No. 3: Peggy Porter/Katie Kubicz (FLA) vs. Christina Zordani/Michelle Linden (WISC) 4-5, unfinished