UW-Eau Claire’s women’s tennis team competed in a regional tournament from Friday, Sept. 22, to Monday, Sept. 25, in Whitewater, Wisconsin.

The women’s tennis team competed in the Midwest ITA Regional tournament against 15 different schools for the 2023 tournament. According to the Blugold Athletics, this competition has included up to 47 participating schools over the past 10 years.

Head coach Ken Cychosz said the Midwest ITA Regional tournament invites some of the best teams in the Midwest and this past weekend showed a lot of progress for the Blugolds.

“Our culture encourages real strong collaboration as well as doing well in school, so we’re not only good on the tennis court,” Cychosz said.

The Blugolds saw Anna Lee, a second-year mathematics student, win her opening match on Friday afternoon, according to the Blugold Athletics.

Sydney Preseler, a fourth-year student, also won in her opener on Friday, making it to the round of 32 in the tournament. Morgan Dekan, a third-year economics and finance student, won her opening match on Friday. 

According to the Blugold Athletics, all three doubles teams won at least one match at the tournament. Partners included Samantha Fuchs and Clare Palen, Anna Lee and Liv Herzog and Mary Shogen and Téa Armstrong.

Fuchs, a third-year nursing student, made it the furthest in the singles matches out of all the WIAC competitors, according to the Blugolds Athletics. 

According to the tournament results, Fuchs had a bye in her first match, leading to her first singles match on Friday afternoon against Reese Williams from Wartburg College. Fuchs won her match in straight sets.

At 9 a.m. on Saturday, Fuchs competed against Lauren Lindow from UW-La Crosse. Fuchs won the round with scores of 6-2, 4-6 and 10-4. Fuchs then competed against Cassandra Lee from UW-Whitewater at 11:30 a.m. the same day. 

According to the results page, Fuchs won the round with scores of 5-7, 6-4, and 10-7. This qualified Fuchs for the quarterfinals on Sunday, Sept. 24.

Fuchs said the women’s tennis team always supports each other and is team-oriented. She said the support of the team helps with the effort of the players, especially coming up on this regional tournament.

“The tournament is preparing you for tough matches you’re not really used to,” Fuchs said. “You have to prepare yourself both physically and mentally.”

At 9 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24, Fuchs competed against Ioanna Giannakou from Grinnell College. Fuchs lost the round 6-2, 7-6 (7).

Fuchs said the team’s goal is to continue focusing on practicing and supporting each other leading up to the WIAC Championship.

“I’m excited for more matches,” Fuchs said. “Our goal is finishing the fall season on a really good note.”

The women’s tennis team’s next set of matches is at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the South Middle School tennis courts in Eau Claire against UW-La Crosse.

According to the Blugolds Athletics schedule, the Blugolds have five more scheduled matches before the WIAC Championships on Oct. 21-22.

To follow along with the women’s tennis team, the Blugold Athletics website will continue to follow the team throughout their season.

Fisher can be reached at [email protected].