Adrian NorthrupThe UW-Eau Claire women’s tennis team crushed UW-Oshkosh Friday, winning all nine of its matches and keeping the team undefeated with an overall record of 10-0.
The loss dropped the Titans to 1-7.
All the Blugold players defeated their
opponents in two sets. Junior No. 1 singles player Sarah Riordan won her match in straight sets of 6-0, 6-1. Freshman Gina
Dahl defeated her opponent 7-5, 6-0 and junior Kristie Carlson won her match with a showing of a 6-2, 6-0 win. Senior captain Laura Geissler won 6-2, 6-1, and junior Liz Deprey won in straight sets of 6-4, 6-3.
Brenna McCormick came out on top by only allowing her opponent one point at 6-1, 6-0.
“Anytime you can win like (McCormick did), you’re playing well,” coach Craig Monson said.
No. 1 doubles partners Riordan and Geissler had an easy win of 8-2. No. 2 partners Carlson and McCormick and No. 3 partners Dahl and Deprey both defeated their opponents with 8-3 wins.
Alumna Katie Kuzma, last year’s team captain, came back for the homecoming weekend and was impressed with how the team played.
“The team looks really good this year and I expect good things for conference,” Kuzma said. “The new freshmen are a great addition to the team.”
The win put the Blugolds one step closer to the conference title which they fell short on last year landing in third place.
“We’re at least second place coming into this (conference tournament) depending upon how we do this weekend,” Monson said. “The bar is raised this year and I expect us to come out in the top two.”
The Blugolds’ next match will be Saturday at UW-La Crosse. UW-La Crosse is also undefeated with a 4-0 record.
“This weekend is a big match for us because La Crosse is also undefeated,” senior Alli Taplin said. “It’s going to be a tough match, but I think our team can pull it out.”
In preparation for the upcoming match, which will be the last before the conference tournament in Madison on Oct. 21, Monson said the team will need to stay focused if they want to beat La Crosse. The team can’t afford mistakes if they want to come out with a win, he said.
Monson said it will be a tough to come up with a fool-proof strategy for beating La Crosse, because the Eagles are the team to beat in the conference.
“I expect all matches to be close,” he said. “We will practice with the same routines and hopefully we will cut down on mistakes and play well.”
