Badgers Sweep Dual Matches to Reach 6-0

Wisconsin women's tennis won both matches of a Saturday doubleheader by a score of 7-0, extending its winning streak to six games. The Badgers defeated Bradley in the first match and Green Bay in the second.

The dual victories place Wisconsin at the top of its all-time list for starts to a season, a mark last achieved in 1992. Green Bay fielded only five players in the second match due to absences, but the Badgers still won every match without dropping a set.

The team established control in the doubles portion of both contests. In the first match, freshman MaryAnn Rompf and senior Kelsey Grambeau defeated Theresa Tebon and Tallie Piaskowski, 6-1. Sophomore Melissa Pick and freshman Lexi Keberle followed with a 6-0 win over Maria Neff and Samm Pedersen.

Wisconsin converted its doubles lead into a clean sweep in singles. Keberle won her match at first singles against Tebon, 6-1, 6-1, extending her combined singles and doubles record to 7-0. Rompf beat Piaskowski, 6-3, 6-1, in the second singles match.

The remaining singles points went to Wisconsin as well. Michelle Linden defeated Sterre Tijssens, 6-1, 6-0. Pick won against Neff, 6-0, 6-0. Christina Zordani finished the match by beating Pedersen, 6-0, 6-1, improving her personal singles record to 5-0 on the season.

Head coach Kelcy McKenna attributed the performance to the team's focus on effort, attitude, and energy. "They did a great job with the controlables: their attitude, their effort and their energy," McKenna said. She noted that the squad must maintain these habits in practice to prepare for the National Team Indoor Championship, scheduled for Feb. 9-12 at the Wisconsin campus.

Despite the perfect record, McKenna identified areas for improvement, particularly in doubles serves and returns. "We need to do a little bit of a better job cleaning up our doubles in terms of serves and returns," she said. She emphasized the need to carry momentum from doubles into singles and avoid giving away free points.