Tuesday, 03/13/2012

MADISON, Wis. – The No. 71 Wisconsin women’s tennis team’s comeback attempt fell short Sunday, losing to 62nd-ranked William & Mary, 4-3, at the Millie West Tennis Facility in Williamsburg, Va.

UW is now 8-4 on the season, while the Tribe improves to 4-9.

After recording a sweep in doubles play Saturday at Old Dominion, the Badgers were only able to record one doubles victory in the matchup with the Tribe. 

Sophomore Nicky Stracar and freshman Nova Patel represented Wisconsin’s only doubles victory with an 8-3 win over Katie Kargl and Sydney Smith at court three.

Junior Hannah Berner and senior Alaina Trgovich were shut out at the No. 1 spot, suffering an 8-0 defeat to Hope Johnson and Jeltje Loomans.

Pairing up at No. 2, seniors Aleksandra Markovic and Angela Chupa were able to get five games off Maria Belaya and Anik Cepeda, but that was not enough as the Badger duo fell, 8-5.

After dropping the doubles point, UW entered singles competition with a 1-0 disadvantage that it was unable to overcome.

William & Mary won the first two singles matches to jump out to a 3-0 lead, but Wisconsin came back to claim the next three matches and even the overall match at 3-3.

Freshman Sarah Loebel started Wisconsin’s comeback with a win in three sets at the No. 4 spot. Loebel came out on top in the third set to take the match, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 over Johnson.

Trgovich kept the Badgers’ rally going with a three-set victory at court two. The Wisconsin senior topped Loomans, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3).

At No. 5, Patel equalized the match as she battled from behind to beat Cepeda, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5).

With the match tied, it all came down to court six where Chupa battled Kargl, ultimately losing in a tiebreak in the third set. Kargl’s tiebreak-win clinched the match for William & Mary as Chupa endured a tough 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4) loss.

Stracar was defeated by Belay, 6-0, 6-3, at the No. 1 singles spot, while Berner also fell in straight-sets, 6-4, 6-1, to Rizzolo at No. 3.

Wisconsin returns home next weekend to host UW-Whitewater. The matchup with the Warhawks is slated for Saturday, March 17 at 12 p.m. at Nielsen Tennis Stadium.

Final Results:

No. 62 William and Mary 4, No. 71 Wisconsin 3

Doubles
1.) Hope Johnson/ Jeltje Loomans (W&M) def. Alaina Trgovich / Hannah Berner (UW), 8-0
2.) Maria Belaya/ Anik Cepeda (W&M) def. Angela Chupa / Aleksandra Markovic (UW), 8-5
3.) Nicky Stracar / Nova Patel (UW) def. Katie Kargl / Sydney Smith (W&M), 8-3

Order of finish:
1, 3, 2

Singles
1.) Aria Belaya (W&M) def. Nicky Stracar (UW), 6-0, 6-3
2.) Alaina Trgovich (UW) def. Jeltje Loomans (W&M), 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3)
3.) Kayla Rizzolo (W&M) def. Hannah Berner (UW), 6-4, 6-1
4.) Sarah Loebel (UW) def. Hope Johnson (W&M), 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
5.) Nova Patel (UW) def. Anik Cepeda (W&M), 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5)
6.) Katie Kargl (W&M) def. Angela Chupa (UW), 6-4, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (4)

Order of finish:
1, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6