Wisconsin Tennis: Badgers Open Season at 6-0 After Two Shutouts

Wisconsin's women's tennis team beat Bradley and then Green Bay on Saturday, taking both matches of a doubleheader by identical 7-0 scores. The wins moved the Badgers to 6-0 for the season.

Saturday's results mark the program's best opening stretch since 1992. Green Bay suited up only five players for the second match.

The Badgers took both doubles courts to start. Freshman MaryAnn Rompf and senior Kelsey Grambeau defeated Theresa Tebon and Tallie Piaskowski 6-1, and sophomore Melissa Pick and freshman Lexi Keberle beat Maria Neff and Samm Pedersen 6-0.

Keberle did not drop a set at first singles, topping Tebon 6-1, 6-1, and she stands 7-0 combined across singles and doubles. Rompf won 6-3, 6-1 over Piaskowski at second singles, Michelle Linden beat Sterre Tijssens 6-1, 6-0 at third, Pick blanked Neff 6-0, 6-0, and Christina Zordani beat Pedersen 6-0, 6-1 at fifth to move to 5-0 in singles.

Head coach Kelcy McKenna credited the result to what her players controlled. "They did a great job with the controlables: their attitude, their effort and their energy," McKenna said. "Those three things are extremely important to our success."

McKenna also pointed to doubles, saying the team needs to clean up serves and returns, be the first side to strike, and hit its spots on service plays. She added that Wisconsin must carry the doubles point into singles: "We have to make sure as we move into singles, if we do have the doubles point, that we carry the momentum with us and try to be gritty and not give away free points." The Badgers host the National Team Indoor Championship Feb. 9-12.