The Badgers women's tennis team is heading into Big Ten Championship play with confidence and optimism after completing their best season in three years. With a 7-3 record in Big Ten play and 14-7 overall, the team earned the No. 2 seed in the upcoming championship. The Badgers will face the winner of the Penn State/Indiana matchup Friday in Indiana.
The Badgers defeated Penn State earlier in the year, but lost 4-3 to Indiana in a close match. Head Coach Patti Henderson said that although it would be nice to avenge the loss to Indiana, she doesn't have a preference as to which team the Badgers play. Senior Vanessa Rauh said it's something the team has not talked about.
\It's out of our control,"" Rauh said. ""We'll take whoever comes.""
This year's championship will have even more meaning for Rauh. She will be playing in her final Big Ten Championship and possibly her last match with the team. Rauh said it will be a little emotional, but she will not let it affect her play.
""All through the season I've been taking a step back every now and then and just watching the team sit there laughing, having a good time,"" Rauh said. ""I think that's something I'll really miss. I'll just enjoy it this weekend and have a good time with it instead of letting it pull me down.""
One of the players she has been watching is freshman Lindsay Martin. Although teammates call her ""little one,"" her impact this year has been anything but little. Martin plays No. 6 singles and teams up with fellow freshman Katie McGaffigan to play No. 3 doubles. Martin and McGaffigan have been nearly unbeatable, going 9-0 in Big Ten play and 18-1 overall. Martin says she and McGaffigan are friends on and off the court.
""We feel so comfortable with each other and know what to expect from each other,"" Martin said. ""We have confidence in each other to know that we can do it.""
Joining Martin and McGaffigan in Friday's lineup will likely be juniors Linde Mues and Lara Vojnov at No. 1 doubles while senior Katie Dougherty and sophomore Teresa Gonzaga pair up at No. 2 doubles. Rauh will play No. 1 singles with Mues at No. 2 and junior Shana McElroy at No. 3. McGaffigan will play No. 4 singles with Dougherty at No. 5 and Martin at No. 6. Henderson said this will likely be her lineup, although nothing is set in stone.
Rauh said that this team is very confident and believes it can beat any team out there. She said they can win the championship, but need to take it one match at a time. Martin feels the same way.
""Everybody on this team thinks we can [win],"" Martin said. ""Everybody's been doing so well lately. I just think that if that can all come together that we have a really good shot.\
