As the Wisconsin women's tennis team heads into the season's final stretch, it has big dreams in its head and big steps to follow. Currently having its best season since 1995-1996 when the Badgers finished 13-0 and captured the Big Ten title, the team is looking to finish strong.
\We started off the season, and we were having success, but I think we've come a long way as a team,"" freshman Lindsay Martin said. ""We work better as a team. We know each other's style of play better.""
The Badgers head into its last set of away matches before the Big Ten Tournament. After splitting last weekend's matches against Indiana, 3-4, and Purdue, 4-3, the women find themselves ranked second in the Big Ten, 13-5 overall, 6-1 in the Big Ten, facing first place Northwestern and Illinois.
Northwestern, 14-5 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten returns as three-time defending Big Ten Champs. The 19th ranked Wildcats are made up of several strong players including senior Simona Petrutiu who won both sets against Iowa Sunday, but the Badgers feel optimistic.
""I think we have to come out ready to play,"" Martin said. ""You have to come out prepared knowing you can do it and hopefully everything else will fall along.""
Sunday the Badgers face Illinois (3-3 Big Ten, 8-10 overall) where freshman Katie McGaffigan's sister, sophomore Jennifer, will play singles against senior Vanessa Rauh.
""We've talked about [not playing together],"" McGaffigan said. ""It's going to be a little weird since we're used to playing on the same team. It's going to be different.""
McGaffigan and Martin continue to lead the Badgers as one of the team's strongest doubles team, with only one loss this season. Rauh and junior Linde Mues will also be looked at for a strong performance.
As they get ready for this weekend's matches, the women are simultaneously preparing for the Big Ten Tournament which begins April 25.
""We know we have two really tough matches so everyone is focused on this weekend,"" McGaffigan said.
Martin added, ""How we do this weekend will determine where we are for the Big Ten tournament, so it's important.""
But before the team starts thinking about the tournament, the team is focusing on the task at hand, defeating Illinois and Northwestern.
""They'll both be tough matches,"" Rauh said. ""I know we have a lot of potential and we'll take it one match at a time when we get there.\
