MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team scored 15 points, earning a third-place finish for the second consecutive season at the WIAC Championship, hosted by UW-Eau Claire here today at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
The final WIAC team standings are determined by using a combination of the regular-season dual meet standings and the WIAC Championship results. The finish in the regular-season standings accounts for one-third of the criteria, while the conference championship accounts for the remaining two-thirds.
Top-seeded Sarah Henderson (Fr.-Prior Lake, MN) won the No. 6 singles championship, defeating Rachael Wabers of UW-La Crosse 7-5, 6-3. Henderson is the first Blugold individual champion at the WIAC Championship since Katie Gilman won the No. 3 singles crown in 2012.
Madison Rossebo (Sr.-Minnetonka, MN) advanced to the finals of No. 4 singles where she was defeated by top-seeded Alicia Beck of UW-Whitewater 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3). Rossebo finished second at No. 5 singles at last season's WIAC Championship.
Maddie Johnson (Sr.-Lakeville, MN/South) took third place at No. 1 singles, defeating Erica Van Riper of UW-Oshkosh 6-3, 6-3. It was the fourth top-three finish at the WIAC Championship for Johnson, who finished second at No. 2 singles in 2013, second at No. 4 singles in 2012 and third at No. 4 singles in 2011.
Colleen McCullough (Jr.-Maple Grove, MN/Osseo) earned third place at No. 2 singles defeating, Bailey Sagen of UW-Oshkosh 3-6, 6-3, 6-0. It was the second top-three finish for McCullough, who took third place at No. 4 singles in 2013.
Nicole Pothen (Sr.-Centerville, MN/Centennial) earned her first career top-three finish defeating Brianna Theobald of UW-Oshkosh 6-2, 6-3 in the third place match at No. 3 singles.
Paige Kuepers (Jr.-Green Bay, WI/Southwest) earned her second career top-three finish placing third at No. 5 singles defeating fourth-seeded Erin Lemmer of UW-Stevens Point 6-1, 6-4. Kuepers finished second at No. 6 singles in 2013.
In doubles play all three Blugold duos finished third in their respective flights. Each Blugold duo won their third place match by identical 8-3 scores. At No. 1 doubles, the team of Johnson/Rossebo defeated Van Riper/Sagen of UW-Oshkosh, Pothen/Kuepers won No. 2 doubles over Theobald/Waldman of UW-Oshkosh and McCullough/Henderson defeated Siemon/Miller of UW-Whitewater at No. 3 doubles.
Johnson was named the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete at the conclusion of the WIAC Championship. Johnson is the 10th Blugold to earn such honors and the second in the last three years. Rossebo represented the Blugolds on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
-KCM-
