The men’s team has won 4 of the 5 matches it has played since Friday, but they lost the BIG one. The loss was the first conference match the Warhawks have lost in the past 6 years, and gave them 2nd place in this weekend’s tournament.
On Friday night the Warhawk men traveled to La Crosse to begin the final four tournament between UWW, UWL, UWEC, and UWO. Their match on Friday night was against Oshkosh. The Warhawks started out playing great doubles winning 8-3, 8-3, and 8-2. The 3-0 lead propelled their confidence and they ended up winning at all singles positions except at #1 where Glinert fell to James Lewison. The win came at a great cost however. Erik Scanlan blew out his elbow in his third set, but was able to muscle through it for the win, but he was not available the rest of the weekend as one of our normal staples in singles and doubles. He will be out indefinitely.
The next day against La Crosse, the team stepped up terrifically without Scanlan winning 8-1. They again swept the doubles with Miller moving up to #2 and Covelli/Krieger looking good at #3. In singles they again won 5 of the 6 matches taking all three setters at #1, #2, and #3 singles, including a good win for Glinert over Piotrowski.
Saturday afternoon, the momentum changed. UWEC’s #1 doubles team played amazing taking out our top pair. At #2, EC had an early lead that they did not relinquish, so it was up to #3 to pull it out and keep us around. Things were looking good there with a 7-4 lead, but their #3 then stepped it up and won 9-8. The tables were now turned, after sweeping doubles in our last 3 matches, we found the momentum on EC’s side with a 3-0 lead for them. As so often happens, the team with the confidence wins the tight ones in singles and EC put UWW away in an afternoon of great tennis. Loprinzi played particularly well in his singles and doubles wins over the Warhawks. Brady Porter again stepped in for a nice win at #6 and Glinert took down Kuna at #1 singles. The loss meant the team would head back without the WIAC final four crown for the first time since 2004.
Last night the senior men (Caiati, Hintz, Glinert, Halweg) were honored in their last home match. Graduate student Mike Harmatys also played his last home match of his career, but he will be with the team as an assistant next season. Each senior had a unique career here at UWW with many athletic accomplishments and academic success 4 of the 5 seniors had a 3.6 GPA or higher! Their maturity and leadership will be greatly missed. Losing these 5 starters all in one year will be difficult to replace. In the matches on senior night, the Warhawks were able to beat both Carroll and Elmhurst 9-0 with altered lineup. Many players got some good experience being able to get higher than normal in the two matches. Some highlights were Caiati’s win at #1 singles, Hintz’s (normally our doubles specialist) win at #5 singles, Rademacher’s and Schwartz’s three set wins at #6 after they each lost first sets, and Sansait/Taylor winning at #3 doubles.
More photos from senior day will be updated soon
The ladies took on Elmhurst and Edgewood college at home on Saturday and used this competition as a way to get all the players a chance to play in the lineup (except for Zhao who was ill). All the players and combinations stepped up to the challenge, not dropping a single match in their two 9-0 decisions. The best matches of the day were Kasten at #3 against Edgewood and Foster at #6 against Elmhurst. Both players were able to finish strong in match tie breaks to give the Warhawks the sweeps.
This weekend the men have a well deserved break while the women have a huge weekend. The women will be participating in the WIAC final four automatic qualifier tournament this Saturday. In this tournament, the top four finishers from the fall conference tournament (UWW, UWL, UWEC, and UWSP) will compete to see which team gets the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Since the Warhawks won conference, they will host and have earned the #1 seed. They will face #4 seeded Steven’s Point. The winner of that match will play the winner of #2 La Crosse vs #3 Eau Claire.
The matches times are currently scheduled for 9am and 1pm at the UWW Outdoor courts, but we anticipate poor weather and possibly moving the tournament indoors to Four Lakes Athletic Club (in Elkhorn) and Janesville Athletic Club. If that happens, the match times will be subject to change, so check our website if you have questions.
Saturday we will also honor our seniors Ingrid Stensvaag, Kelly Rutkowski, and Michelle Daciolas as they play their final home matches of the season. Please come support your Lady Warhawks!!
GO WARHAWKS!
