Hot off a huge win against Ohio State last Saturday, the UW women's tennis team (2-8 Big Ten, 5-17 overall) heads into the Big Ten tournament as the No. 11 seed. The Badgers' first win in six matches left them with a Thursday matchup against No. 6 seed Michigan State (4-6, 14-9), a matchup that head coach Patti Henderson does not mind.
Us taking the 11th seed, it actually gives us an opportunity to play against Michigan State who we lost to at Michigan State in a very closely contested match,\ Henderson said. ""That bodes well for us, it's a great situation for us to go into the Big Ten Tournament.""
Perhaps even more important than the win Saturday was the triumphant return of junior Caitlin Burke after an eight week absence. The No. 32 player in the country took care of OSU's No. 1 Caitlin O'Keefe with panache, winning in two sets 7-5, 6-0. Despite a shaky start, Burke quickly reverted to her usual dominance.
""It's been a long time since she had been in that situation, once she got through that first set she started to roll with her own confidence,"" Henderson said. ""Each match that she continues to compete in she's just going to continue to unfold her comfort level and her confidence level on the court.""
Burke's return to the lineup not only gives the Badgers back their No. 1 singles and doubles player, it gives the team added confidence and a better balanced lineup. With all the adversity the team had to face this season, the lineup never really found its collective niche.
""Having Caitlin back pushes everyone down a slot, so I think we're more in sync with what our true lineup is for starters,"" Henderson said. ""By that very nature you have added confidence ... It has an impact that goes throughout the team.""
Having people back in their regular playing spots is important, but the shuffle may have helped Wisconsin in the long run. Players like junior Kaylan Caiati and freshman Liz Carpenter were able to get experience at higher spots, which allowed them to face tougher competition and make adjustments accordingly. Playing powerhouses like Indiana and Purdue, albeit in losses, gave some of the younger players a postseason feel.
""It put everyone on a fast track to maturing and to growing up, but it gave them a glimpse at what it's going to take at certain positions,"" Henderson said.
The Spartans come into Thursday's matchup after a win against Penn State and a loss to Indiana last weekend. Christine Bader is the team's No. 1 singles player with a 21-16 record, including two wins against ranked opponents. At the doubles position, Jessica Baron and Stephanie Kebler have been excellent with a 24-13 record and a four match winning streak. The bottom half of Wisconsin's singles department will have to play well because the No. 4 through 6 Spartans are surprisingly strong.
The opening round match takes place in Champaign, Ill., Thursday.
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