The women's tennis team (5-4 Big Ten, 12-7 overall) split their weekend, losing to Illinois Saturday, but rebounded with a victory over Purdue Sunday.
The Badgers fell just short of a victory against the Illini on Saturday, losing 4-3 on the Nielsen Tennis Stadium outdoor courts.
The first point for Wisconsin came on a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory for sophomore Caitlin Burke in the No. 2 singles. Burke seems to have found a niche in the second spot, winning nine straight at that position.
Sophomore Kaylan Caiati also notched a point for the Badgers, winning 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in the fourth singles match. Freshman Chelsea Nusslock was the only other bright spot for the Badgers, coming back from a 4-2 deficit in the first set to win 7-5 and eventually picking up the third point in a losing cause.
Sunday's victory over the Boilermakers was made extra special because the Badgers were able to celebrate their seniors' last home matches with a win.
\It feels good to get a 4-3 win,"" Wisconsin head coach Patti Henderson said. ""We had a few 4-3 matches that we lost a couple weeks ago, but it feels good to close out Nielsen in 2005 with a win where everybody contributed.""
Burke starred again, this time in the Badgers' deciding match, coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the first set and from 4-1 in the second to force a tiebreaker. After seeing her sophomore phenom dominate the tiebreaker, head coach Patti Henderson praised Burke.
""Caitlin knew she was the deciding match today,"" Henderson said. ""She really turned it up a notch. She played very poised, and she took her time when she needed to take her time. To come back from down 4-1 in the second set to come back and take the tiebreaker in the way she did was excellent.""
UW's two seniors, Lindsay Martin and Katie McGaffigan, celebrated the end to their last time at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in victorious fashion. McGaffigan, along with Burke, won the first point for the Badgers with an 8-3 defeat over Shawna Zuccarini and Lara Bugarello. Martin quickly handed Zuccarini her second loss at 6-4, 6-3 in the No. 3 singles match.
Caiatti also contributed a point against Purdue with a 6-4, 6-1 victory in the No. 4 singles slot.
-Compiled from staff reports.
