WHITEWATER, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The Blugold women's tennis team kicked off its season with mixed results after playing in two events hosted by UW-Whitewater. After losing 8-1 in a match against the Warhawks Friday, Eau Claire finished fifth in Saturday's Warhawk Invitational.
The lone win for the Blugolds on Friday came from Megan Born (Jr.-Antigo, Wis.) in the No. 1 singles spot. She routed her Whitewater opponent 7-6 (7-5), 6-4. The rest of the team had trouble with the defending WIAC champion Warhawks, and didn't record a winning set.
Saturday's Warhawk Invitational saw the Blugolds place fifth out of eight teams with 15.5 points in the bracket-style tournament. UW-Whitewater ran away with the event, earning first place with 50 points while UW-La Crosse took second place with 34 points.
Two Blugolds earned third place finishes in the tournament; Born took third in the No. 1 singles battle 7-5, 6-2 while Lexi DeMario (Fr.-Verona, Wis./Verona Area) easily captured the third place No. 3 singles event, giving up only 1 game in her 6-1, 6-0 victory.
In doubles competition, the No. 1 duo of Katie Gillman (Fr.-Red Wing, Minn.) and Taylor Heltne (So.-Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) and the No. 3 team of Gretchen Bachmeier (So.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) and Mary Frassetto (Fr.-Oshkosh, Wis./West) both won the consolation championships.
Next Saturday the Blugolds host Luther College (Iowa) and the College of St. Benedict (Minn.) for two matches at home. The first match against Luther is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.
