Related Links:
Cardinal Stritch Box Score
Edgewood Box Score
Illinois Tech Box Score
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's tennis team earned three dual victories Wednesday in non-conference play at the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex.
The Warhawks (3-0 overall) edged NAIA powerhouse Cardinal Stritch 4-3 to start the day, then topped Edgewood by an 8-1 score and Illinois Tech by a 9-0 sweep to cap the day of competition.
UW-Whitewater earned the doubles point in the match against Cardinal Stritch (0-1), which was played by Division I rules, thanks to victories by freshmen
Autumn Bruno (Milwaukee, Wis./Greenfield Whitnall) and
Cassie Lee (Downers Grove, Ill./Timothy Christian) at No. 1 and senior
Olivia Kraft (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) and junior
Courtney Day (Oshkosh, Wis./North) at No. 2.
Bruno continued the Warhawks' momentum in singles play, securing a point with a straight-set win at No. 2. Sophomore
Kellie Ha (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) provided the next point with a 7-6 (6), 6-1 triumph at No. 5, and freshman
Gianna Nikoleit (Elmhurst, Ill./York Community) clinched the match with a 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 3.
In the match against Edgewood (0-1), the Bruno/Lee combination earned another win at first doubles. Day and senior
Molly Rueth (Wheaton, Ill./Glenbard West) posted an 8-2 triumph at the second position, and freshmen
Zenia Barretto (Dubai, United Arab Emirates/Gems Wellington International School) and
Sarah Ferguson (Oak Creek, Wis./Oak Creek) combined for an 8-3 victory at the third position.
Straight-set winners in singles included Bruno, Lee, Day, Rueth and senior
Jessica Minkov (Schiller Park, Ill./East Leyden) at the Nos. 1-5 positions, respectively.
UW-Whitewater also earned a doubles sweep against Illinois Tech (1-2). Kraft and Ha earned a win at No. 1 thanks to a tiebreaker. Nikoleit and junior
Bethany Marshall (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove) picked up an 8-5 victory at No. 2, and seniors
Bryce Bigelow (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) and
Madalyn Bigelow (Kenosha, Wis./Tremper) paired for an 8-1 triumph at No. 3.
All six players were victorious in singles play to clinch UW-W's third win of the day.
The Warhawks begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Friday against UW-Oshkosh. First serve at the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex is slated for 3:30 p.m.
