Saint Paul, Minn. (Blugolds. com)- The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire women's tennis team earned a 9-0 sweep over Martin Luther and defeated Northwestern (Minn.) 7-2 on Saturday, April 22.
In their first match of the day against Martin Luther the Blugolds opened with strong doubles play, winning all three doubles matches. Natalie Wijesinghe (Apple Valley, Minn.) and partner Sarah Henderson (Prior Lake, Minn. ) earned an 8-4 victory at No. 1 doubles, while Olivia Gallagher (Lodi, Wis.) and Molly Stewart (Amery, Wis. ) had a dominating 8-1 win at the No. 2 doubles spot. Brooke Volpone (Monticello, Minn.) with partner Hannah Zevenbergen (Baldwin, Wis. / Baldwin-Woodville) finished the doubles sweep with a 8-2 win at No. 3 doubles.
The Blugolds continued their dominance into singles action. At the No. 1 spot Henderson earned a 6-1, 6-3 victory, while Stewart had a strong match at No. 2 singles earning a 6-0, 6-2 win. Gallagher made quick work of Birner (ML), winning 6-1, 6-1, while Volpone got a dominant victory at the No. 4 singles slot. Molly Sanvik (Winona, Minn.) defeated Shevey (ML) at the No. 5 slot, and sophomore Kendra Berry (Duluth, Minn.) finished the sweep with a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 6 singles.
In their victory over Northwestern, the Blugolds got out to a 2-1 lead in doubles action. Stewart and Gallagher defeated Lapinski/Lukkarila (NWMN) 8-1 at No. 2 doubles and Volpone and Zevenbergen earned another victory at the No. 3 singles slot.
The Blugolds defeated Northwestern in five of six singles matches to earn the 7-2 victory. The Blugold women have won four out of their last five heading into the WIAC Final Four next weekend. The Blugolds will face UW-La Crosse in the WIAC final four at UW-Whitwater on April 29.