MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's tennis team took third place at the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Tennis Championship (presented by Culver's) following two days of competition at Nielsen Tennis Stadium on Oct. 25.
Results
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater claimed the league-leading 16th conference title in program history with 21 overall championship points. UW-La Crosse finished second with 18 points, UW-Eau Claire third with 15, UW-Oshkosh fourth with 11, UW-Stevens Point fifth with 10, UW-Stout sixth with six and UW-River Falls seventh with three.
The team title was determined by using a combination of the regular-season dual-meet standings and the WIAC championship results. The finish in the regular-season standings accounted for one-third of the criteria, while the conference championship accounted for the remaining two-thirds.
At the two-day league championship, UW-Whitewater compiled 63 points (14 overall championship points). UW-La Crosse was second with 51 points (12), while UW-Eau Claire was third with 47 (10), UW-Oshkosh and UW-Stevens Point tied for fourth with 27 (7), UW-Stout sixth with 23 (4) and UW-River Falls seventh with 14 (2).
Point distribution following the dual-meet rotation included: UW-Whitewater (6-0) (7 overall championship points); UW-La Crosse (5-1) (6); UW-Eau Claire (4-2) (5); UW-Oshkosh (3-3) (4); UW-Stevens Point (2-4) (3); UW-Stout (1-5) (2); and UW-River Falls (0-6) (1).
UW-Eau Claire, UW-La Crosse, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Whitewater advance to the team tournament in the spring to determine the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championship. The Warhawks will host the four-team event.
UW-Whitewater claimed all six singles flights and all three doubles crowns – marking the fourth time in league history that has happened. UW-Whitewater accomplished the feat in 2008 and 2011, while Marquette University achieved the task in 1982 in Division II.
In singles competition, Megan Humphreys posted a 6-2, 6-1 victory at over UW-La Crosse's Bridget Bellissimo at No. 1 singles. Humphreys won the No. 3 singles crown in 2013. Gabi Kitchell was victorious at No. 2 singles with a 6-0, 6-1 triumph over UW-La Crosse's Kimmy Mrozek, while Bridgid McGuire claimed No. 3 singles with a 6-1, 6-3 win over UW-Eau Claire's Colleen McCullough.
At No. 4 singles, secured the title with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over UW-La Crosse's Kendra Woyahn. Talyansky won No. 3 singles a season ago. Jillian Wallace won her second straight No. 5 singles crown with a 6-2, 6-1 triumph over UW-La Crosse's Sadie Spahn. Alicia Beck became a two-time conference champion, emerging with a 6-4, 6-3 win over UW-Eau Claire's Kendra Berry. Beck was the No. 4 singles champion at last year's meet.
In doubles contests, Humphreys and McGuire claimed the No. 1 flight with an 8-4 victory over Bellissimo and Mrozek. McGuire won the flight for the second consecutive year. At No. 2 doubles, Wallace and Beck posted an 8-5 win over UW-Eau Claire's Paige Kuepers and Olivia Gallagher. Wallace also won the flight last season.
Talyansky teamed with Gabi Kitchell for an 8-1 triumph over UW-La Crosse's Kendra Woyahn and Hayley Clope at No. 3 doubles.
UW-La Crosse's Kimmy Mrozek received the Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award, which is sponsored by Badgerland Financial.
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Named to the squad were: UW-Eau Claire's Brooke Volpone; UW-La Crosse's Bridget Bellissimo; UW-Oshkosh's Sophie Pitz; UW-River Falls' Kelsey Hochberger; UW-Stevens Point's Jordan Tyjeski; UW-Stout's Kelsey Pedersen; and UW-Whitewater's Megan Humphreys.
