Kalla Schaefer was not sure what to expect at the individual NCAA singles tournament as she headed to Lawrenceville, GA to participate in the top tournament in Division 3 women’s tennis, but she knew it would be tough.  Schaefer is a freshman on the UW-Whitewater squad and the first to qualify for the tournament since 1991, so I was not sure what the competition would be like either.

 

It is a single elimination tournament and she unfortunately drew the #4 seeded player, Julia Browne, from Tufts University.  Surprisingly, Kalla had played Browne earlier in the year, at the fall national tournament in Alabama.  Browne was then the #1 seed and they again faced off in the first round.  In the first meeting Schaefer was leading 4-3 in the third and decisive set before losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 so Schaefer went in knowing her opponent and feeling she could hang with Browne. 

 

This, the second time around, Browne really stepped it up.  She started off leading 2-0, before Kalla started to put some pressure on with her variety.  Kalla evened the match at 3-3 in the first set.  They then had a long game that Browne won taking a 4-3 lead and she never looked back, taking the next 8 games and the victory. 

 

Since it was a singles elimination tournament, Schaefer was out of the tournament, but enjoyed watching the competition.  In the field of 32 players there was not an easy draw.  MANY matches went to three sets and it seemed there was not a huge of difference between the #1 player in the draw and the #32.  The depth of the field made watching it very fun and exciting.  Schaefer realizes it will not be easy to get back to this spot next year, but wants to work hard all year to improve and be ready if she does.  Any of these players can get on a roll and make a dent in the draw.  In fact, Schaefer did very well earlier in the year against both the women that ended up in the final.  She had beaten the finalist Suthijindawong in the fall ITAs, and Schaefer had lost a close match to the eventual champion McManigle from Emory 6-3 in the third set.  The fact that she did well against the finalists made her hungry to work hard and see how she can do all year next season.

 

We also witnessed some great matches in the team competition when we first got down there to practice as the women’s team competition was winding up.  Williams beat Amherst 5-2 in the final.  All eight teams that made it to Georgia were very solid deep teams.

 

It was a terrific season for the Warhawk Men and Women and I can’t wait to get started again next fall!

 

GO WARHAWKS!