Fueled by a strong start in doubles and stellar performances from its two seniors on Senior Day, the UW women's tennis team knocked off No. 60 Michigan State 5-2 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
The Badgers (2-8 Big Ten, 9-13 overall) began the match by sweeping three doubles matches to take a 1-0 lead to open the contest. UW clinched the point when freshman Emese Kardhordo and sophomore Katya Mirnova defeated the Spartans' Stephanie Kebler and Lindsey Lonergan 9-7 at the No. 3 spot.
Badgers coach Brian Fleishman said he mixed the doubles lineup around to have two pairs that have rarely played together this season. He used the same tactic last in the Badgers' last match, a 6-1 upset victory at then-No. 47 Iowa.
We are kind of mixing the doubles lineup around, trying to find some good combinations going into the tournament, and I think it's catching a lot of teams off guard,"" Fleishman said. ""It's tough to get a scouting report [on the pairs] with the late notice. I think our doubles is really rising to the occasion and everybody's figuring out, 'hey, I'm a good player and I can play with anybody.'""
Sunday afternoon also marked the final home match for seniors Chelsea Nusslock and Morgan Tuttle. The pair was recognized prior to the match in a short ceremony and were awarded a picture frame with individual action shots and team photos.
After defeating the Hawkeyes on their Senior Day, Fleishman made sure his seniors noted Iowa's disdain following the match.
""Last weekend at Iowa that was their Senior Day, we kind of screwed it up for them,"" Fleishman said. ""It was kind of a bad Senior Day. I told the seniors 'look down there, if you don't want that, come to play next week on Senior Day.' I think they really rose to the occasion today.""
Nusslock and Tuttle responded with a pair of singles victories to add to their doubles wins. Tuttle, a Winnetka, Ill., native, clinched the match for the Badgers with a 6-2, 6-3 triumph at No. 6 singles over Ally Wickman of the Spartans (3-7 Big Ten, 12-12 overall). The Iowa transfer was pleased with the team's victory, its second in a row heading into the Big Ten Tournament.
""The three years I've been here have been up and down, but I think we always find a way to find a positive, and I think this year we've really grown as a team and individually, and I think it showed in our results,"" Tuttle said.
Nusslock, a Lake Forest, Ill., native, followed Tuttle with a hard-fought 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 victory over Michigan State's Ana Milosavljevic at No. 5 singles.
""Chelsea's a great competitor, great friend, great teammate, a great leader,"" Tuttle said. ""When she's out on the court she's going to give 110 percent. She's just overall a great person and we know we can count on her.""
""They're two great kids,"" said Fleishman, referring to Tuttle and Nusslock. ""Both of them have big hearts, a lot of Badger pride. They did what they could do here. And I think they actually got better this year as the season progressed, so I can't ask any more of them.""
With their regular season complete, the Badgers hope to make a run at this weekend's Big Ten Tournament in West Lafayette, Ind. Play will begin this Thursday for UW, which will likely receive the 10th or 11th seed.
Men's recap
The No. 34 UW men's tennis team closed its regular season with a 7-0 sweep at Michigan State on Sunday afternoon.
The Badgers (8-2 Big Ten, 16-8 overall) did not lose a match in either doubles or singles en route to their third consecutive victory and seventh in their last eight dual matches. The Spartans concluded their regular season with a 12-12 record, including a 1-9 mark in conference play.
UW will begin its postseason play in the Big Ten Tournament this Friday at Iowa City, Iowa.
- msuspartans.cstv.com
contributed to this report.
