March 26, 2011

Results

JACKSON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team opened a key weekend of league play with a 6-1 win over Youngstown State Saturday afternoon at Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness.

The Panthers (10-5, 3-1 Horizon) won the doubles point and set the tone quickly in singles play to win for the third-straight time and fifth time in their last six outings.

"Our top singles players really put together some impressive performances," UWM head coach Sean McInerney said. "Kelly Fritz hadn't played a match in three weeks and was phenomenal. It is amazing how much she has matured in a year and she has become a high-level singles player in the league. Maddy's opponent was in the upper-echelon of players in the league and she overcame some adversity and found a way to win the match. Really everyone else did what they are supposed to do, too, and that is why we were able to win the match 6-1."

The doubles point went Milwaukee's way thanks to victories in the second and third slots. Kelly Fritz and Sammi Schoen teamed up for an 8-1 win in the second spot while Maddy Soule and Beth Ganser earned a hard-fought 8-6 win in the third slot.

Then, in singles action, Schoen (third singles) and Kristin Kurer (sixth singles) made quick work of their opponents, dropping just three games between them. Soule and Brittany Skemp then finished off their matches to put the Panthers over the top. Soule claimed a 6-4, 6-3 win over Margarita Sadovnikova in the top spot while Skemp was a 6-0, 6-4 winner over Hannah Patten in the fifth spot.

Fritz then capped off the afternoon by winning a tiebreaking third set at number-two singles, wrapping up a 2-6, 6-4, 10-7 win over Annie Jesko.

"This was a big win today, but we'll really see how far we have come tomorrow against Cleveland State," McInerney said. "They will be one of the best teams we have played this season."

The Panthers and Vikings square off in a 10 a.m. contest at Pleasant Valley.