MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team scored 12 points, earning a second-place finish at the WIAC Championship 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.
At number one singles Sarah Henderson (Prior Lake, Minn.) defeated Brittany Asfeld (UW-River Falls) 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 in the first round yesterday. Henderson lost her second round match today to Bridget Bellissimo (UW-La Crosse), but went on to win her 3rd place match over Sagen (UW-Oshkosh), 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Natalie Wijesinghe (Apple Valley, Minn.) and Molly Stewart (Amery, Wis.) advanced to the championship match at number two and four singles, respectivly. Wijesinghe and Stewart were both defeated by number one seeds from UW-Whitewater. Olivia Gallagher (Lodi, Wis.) and Kendra Berry (Duluth, Minn./ East) won third place at number three and five singles. Gallagher with a dominating victory over Peters (UW-Oshkosh), 6-4, 6-3, and Berry defeating Samantha Koppa (UW-Oshkosh).
Bailey Budnik (Manitowoc, Wis./ Lincoln) was the Blugolds only Champion of the tournament. Budnik as the number two seed at number six singles; defeated Elizabeth Wilichowski (UW-Stevens Point) 6-1, 6-0 in the first round, and handily won her second round match over Katie Govin (UW-Stout). Budnik defeated the number one seed Rachel Siemon (UW-Whitewater) 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the Championship. Following play, Budnik was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team
In doubles action Henderson and Wijesinghe advanced to the championship match at number one doubles. The pair was defeated by Humphreys/Kitchell (UW-Whitewater) 8-4. Gallagher and Stewart won thrid place at number two doubles; while Brooke Volpone (Monticello, Minn.) and partner Hannah Zevenbergen (Baldwin, Wis. /Baldwin-Woodville) were defeated in the championship match and number three doubles.
The Blugolds women's tennis team will not compete again until early March 2017.