After a weeklong break, the Wisconsin women's tennis team ((0-1 Big Ten, 6-7 overall) traveled to rival Minnesota to open its Big Ten conference schedule. Trying to snap its six-game losing streak, the Badgers fell to the Gophers, 4-3, and continued its recent downward trend.
Minnesota (9-4) started off hot, winning the doubles point quickly. The Gophers’ pair of Caitlyn Merzbacher and Mehvish Safdar defeated Wisconsin’s Sara Castellano and MaryAnn Rompf 6-2 at first doubles. And, to secure the doubles point, UM’s Carolina Ryba and River Hart took down UW’s sophomore duo of Melissa Pick and Michelle Linden 6-3 at third doubles.
The Gophers built off their momentum from doubles, quickly gaining a 3-0 advantage. At fourth singles, Minnesota’s Barbara Mancera handled UW’s Kelsey Grambeau, 6-1, 6-3. Cammy Frei took down Michelle Linden in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1 at the sixth singles slot.
The Badgers didn't give in, however, with Rompf giving Wisconsin its first point, taking down Annemarie Emme 6-2, 7-6 (2) at third singles.
Pick followed Rompf’s lead, winning the Badgers their second point of the day. She beat Merzbacher in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 at fifth singles.
After UW’s two consecutive wins, the Gophers finished off the Badgers with Tina Kreines defeating Castellano 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 at the second spot.
Freshman Lexi Keberle, who came into the match ranked 111th nationally in the ITA top 125 singles players, added another win to her impressive resume and earned Wisconsin its third point. She took down Ryba at first singles by a score of 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3).
This loss marks the Badgers’ seventh straight loss, and first loss in the Big Ten after starting their season 6-0. After four straight road games, UW will get a week off before finally returning home to Nielsen Tennis Stadium, where it will welcome Rutgers on Friday, March 16 and hope to halt its current losing skid and earn its first Big Ten win of the season.
