Madison, Wis. (Blugolds.com)- The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team competed in the first day of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Women's Tennis Championship at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison. The Blugolds advanced to two out of three doubles championship matches and moved into the second round of all six singles flights.
In singles action in round one, at No. one singles, Sarah Henderson (Prior Lake, Minn.) #3 defeated Brittany Asfeld (UW-River Falls) (#6), 6-1, 5-7, 6-1. Henderson advances to face Bridget Bellissimo (UW-La Crosse) tomorrow. At No. two singles Natalie Wijesinghe (Apple Valley, Minn.) #2 defeated Molly Deering (UW-River Falls) (#7), 6-0, 6-0. Olivia Gallagher (Lodi, Wis.) won her first round match over Frances Weiss (UW-Stevens Point) (#6), 6-3, 7-5 at No. three singles. Molly Stewart (Amery,Wis.) and Kendra Berry (Duluth, Minn./ East) both won their matches at number four and five singles. Bailey Budnik (Manitowoc, Wis. /Lincoln) continues to shine at No. six singles and advances to the second round tomorrow with a 6-1, 6-0 win.
In the first round of doubles play Sarah Henderson/Natalie Wijesinghe (#2) defeated Anna Fesenmaier/Molly Deering (UW-River Falls) (#7), 8-1. The pair went on to win their second round match over Bellissimo/Spahn (UW-La Crosse), 8-4. Henderson and Wijesinghe will face Megan Humphreys/Gabi Kitchell (UW-Whitewater) (#1) tomorrow in the championship. At number two doubles Olivia Gallagher/Molly Stewart (#3) defeated Jenna Welke/Emma Pedersen (UW-Stout) (#6), 8-1. The pair lost their second round match to Clope/Bublitz (UW-La Crosse) 9-8. Brooke Volpone (Monticello, Minn.) and partner Hannah Zevenbergen (Baldwin, Wis. / Baldwin-Woodville) won their first round match dominating Frances Weiss/Elizabeth Wilichowski (UW-Stevens Point) (#6), 8-1. In the second round Volpone and Zevenbergen defeated Weise/Fleming (UW-La Crosse) 8-1. The pair will play in the championship tomorrow against Rachel Siemon/Brittany Goebel (UW-Whitewater) (#1).
Play at the WIAC Championship continues Sunday at 9 a.m. with the last two rounds of singles and the doubles finals.