Badgers Extend Unbeaten Season With Flawless Doubleheader Victory

Wisconsin women’s tennis players secured two decisive victories on Saturday, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record for the season. The Badgers swept both Bradley and Green Bay in a doubleheader, winning each contest by a lopsided 7-0 margin. This performance marks the program’s strongest start to a season since 1992, establishing a significant baseline for the remainder of the competitive year.

The path to this milestone began with a dominant display of control in the doubles events, which set the stage for the subsequent singles matches. In the first match against Bradley, freshman MaryAnn Rompf and senior Kelsey Grambeau defeated Theresa Tebon and Tallie Piaskowski with a 6-1 score. Shortly after, sophomore Melissa Pick and freshman Lexi Keberle secured a 6-0 victory over Maria Neff and Samm Pedersen. These early wins established a rhythm that the team maintained throughout the day.

The momentum from the doubles pairs translated seamlessly into the singles competition, where no Wisconsin player lost a set. Lexi Keberle, competing in the first singles position, defeated Tebon in straight sets, 6-1 and 6-1. Keberle’s performance extends her personal unbeaten streak in both singles and doubles, bringing her combined record to 7-0 for the season.

MaryAnn Rompf followed with a victory over Piaskowski, taking the second singles match 6-3 and 6-1. Michelle Linden contributed a win at third singles against Sterre Tijssens, closing out the match 6-1 and 6-0. Melissa Pick added a clean sweep of Neff at fourth singles, winning both sets 6-0.

At the fifth singles position, Christina Zordani defeated Pedersen 6-0 and 6-1. This result improves Zordani’s singles record to 5-0 for the season. The second match of the day against Green Bay saw the Badgers face a short-handed opponent with only five players available. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Green Bay team could not keep pace with Wisconsin’s consistent play.

Head coach Kelcy McKenna attributed the team’s success to a focus on controllable factors. She highlighted the players’ attitude, effort, and energy as the primary drivers of the result. McKenna emphasized that these three elements are critical to the team’s overall success and their ability to perform at a high level.

Looking ahead, McKenna stressed the importance of maintaining attention to detail in preparation. She noted that the team must concentrate on executing small tasks correctly in practice and managing daily drills and match simulations. This focus is intended to ensure the squad is ready for the upcoming National Indoors and the rest of the spring season.

Despite the flawless record, the coach identified specific areas for improvement, particularly within the doubles unit. McKenna stated that the team needs to refine its serves and returns to become the first team to be aggressive. She also emphasized the need to hit targeted spots during service plays to maximize effectiveness.

The coach further advised the team to protect its lead once it secures a doubles point. She urged the players to carry that momentum into the singles matches, playing with grit and avoiding free points. This strategy aims to ensure that early advantages are not squandered in the latter stages of competition.

Wisconsin’s next scheduled match is set for February 9 through 12, when the Badgers will host the National Team Indoor Championship. The team enters this event looking to extend its unbeaten start and compete for a national title in a controlled home environment.