Saturday, the No. 62 Wisconsin men's tennis team beat Butler 7-0, improving the Badgers overall record to 6-4 and 2-1 in the Big Ten.
UW swept Butler in doubles play, led by the No. 1 sophomore tandem of captain Jeremy Sonkin and Nolan Polley. They defeated the Bulldogs No. 1 doubles duo of Brandon Gill and Parker Ross 8-4.
We have been struggling with our doubles and we finally have the right line up to do what it takes to get the doubles point,\ Sonkin said.
Head coach Greg Van Emburgh also reemphasized the importance of winning the doubles point.
""It was really important because Butler has won against Clemson, beaten Indiana, and beaten Purdue, so, they really base their program around the doubles point,"" Van Emburgh said. ""This was probably one of the best doubles matches we have played all year. It was great to know that we could raise our level.""
Wisconsin's success continued in singles play as well. The Badgers swept five out of the six matches in consecutive sets. The only match that went into a third set was the No. 4 singles match between junior Lachezar Kasarov of Wisconsin and Butler's Andy Bartish.
Once again, the charge was led by both Sonkin and Polley, who both shut their opponents out in the second set to claim victories at No. 1 and No. 2 singles.
""I played really well today. It was easily an opponent that could give me a lot of trouble,"" Sonkin said. ""The key to winning this match today was hitting winners, being aggressive, and taking advantage of every point I could.""
The Badgers' next match is at Marquette March 8 against the Golden Eagles.
""They [Marquette] are a solid team, they have some good players, and they are well coached,"" Van Emburgh said of the upcoming match. ""So, our guys need to be ready to play.""
\
