When it comes to facing adversity, the Wisconsin women's tennis team has seen more than its fair share this season. Early-season illnesses and the injury of junior singles star Caitlin Burke have been major factors that have left the team with a disappointing 3-12 record and 0-3 in the conference. But as evidenced by their solid play against Michigan State last Sunday immediately following a devastating loss at Michigan, the Badgers showed that they still have poise and will not let their past hold them back.
I feel that our match on Sunday against Michigan State was a great college match, and it was a good performance by our kids,\ head coach Patti Henderson said. ""We found ourselves in a situation that we haven't been in all year, and we had five three-set matches. I really feel as though we competed well and really changed things around after probably the worst performance of the season against Michigan.""
The team is hoping to channel all of its energy into a pair of home-conference matches when they battle Penn State (1-2 Big Ten, 7-6 overall) and Indiana (3-0, 13-4) this weekend in the Nielson Tennis Stadium. Wisconsin will need to gain some momentum against the Nittany Lions Saturday before moving on to play a strong Hoosier team Sunday. Indiana is currently on a four-game winning streak and a win against Northwestern Saturday would put them in first place in the Big Ten.
""We had a discussion and we talked about [the loss at Michigan], and we set some goals going into the match against Michigan State ... I was pleased with how we did that, and if we can compete like that every single time we step on the court, eventually things are going to fall our way,"" Henderson said. ""It could happen and that can start on Saturday against Penn State.""
As the season has progressed, Wisconsin has worked to draw positive outcomes from the setbacks they have faced, particularly with the injury of Burke. With the No. 1 player out, players like freshmen Erin Jobe and Elizabeth Carpenter have had to increase their level of play and take on a bigger role on the team. The freshmen duo came up with a remarkable doubles win in the inspiring match against the Spartans last weekend.
""It's been very difficult because a lot of people had to step up and come into a position which they weren't expecting to be in,"" Carpenter said of the team this season. ""I think it's really made people become stronger even if they don't recognize it right now. In the end it's going to pay off because once our team is completely healthy and we have everyone playing their position, people will have improved tremendously from having to step up and play higher positions than usual.""
""It's a challenge and you've got to dig deep when you haven't been able to get the win,"" Henderson said. ""There's still always ways to gather confidence and we did that against Michigan State. So far this week, practices have been good and I'm looking forward to this weekend.""\
