Related Links:
Men's Box Score
Women's Box Score
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men and women's tennis teams began their Spring Trip in Fredericksburg, Va. Friday morning. Both teams played against the College of New Jersey (TCNJ).
The Warhawk men (7-3) fell to their no. 30 nationally-ranked counterparts 6-3, while the no. 36 women (8-4) toppled their undefeated no. 23 ranked opponent in a tense 5-4 affair.
The men fell behind early in the doubles matches against TCNJ (8-0), though the first doubles pair of senior
Jimmy Engelhart (Brookfield, Wis./East) and freshman
Alex Gray (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) claimed the lone doubles victory on the day 8-4 for the Warhawk men.
The men would drop the first two singles matches, before freshman
Ryan Mitchell (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East) staved off defeat in the third slot with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 victory. Another victory thanks to Gray in the fourth slot would put the Warhawk men within one, but a dropped match in the fifth slot effectively ended the afternoon for the men.
The women would also start against TCNJ (12-1) with a lone win in doubles thanks to sophomore
Sabrina Palavra (Skokie, Ill. / Niles North) and freshman
Olivia Kraft (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community), but claimed the first three victories in singles to take a 4-3 advantage in the match.
TCNJ claimed the fifth match, leaving it at 4-4. Freshman
Elsie Ha (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) battled hard in the sixth and decisive singles match, and emerged victorious from the 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 match to claim the upset for the Warhawk women.
The men will return to the courts tomorrow to face down Bates (Maine) at 3 p.m. Central Time. Both teams will conclude play in Fredericksburg, Va. Sunday at noon Central Time versus Mary Washington.