Sept. 18, 2011

Results

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team won two more doubles contests and four more singles matches to wrap up the Minnesota Invite Sunday.

Brittany Skemp won the championship of the Augustus Singles Flight with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Jessie Bertino of Bradley, while freshman Christina Colarossi finished up a strong weekend with a straight-sets win over Cassandra Escobar of Iowa.

Overall, UWM players went 23-17 on the weekend in both singles and doubles play against a field that included Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri, LSU and the host Golden Gophers.

"This was probably the best tournament this team has played," UWM head coach Sean McInerney said. "To finish above .500 overall in a Big Ten invite, and to go 8-4 in doubles play, is exactly where we need to be against the very good teams we will play this spring. We really exceeded my expectations and I think everyone on the team now knows we can compete at the highest levels. This was clearly a very good weekend and another step in the right direction."

Other Sunday winners included Kelly Fritz, who claimed a 6-2, 6-4 win over Carly Miles of Bradley, and Beth Ganser, who won 6-0, 7-6 (5) over Meredith McDonagh of Bradley. In doubles play, Ganser and Fritz had an 8-4 victory in the Gray Flight while Kristin Kurer and Bailey had an 8-0 win in the same flight.

Even in defeat on Sunday, the Panthers put up a good showing. Chelsea Bailey fell in a third-set tiebreaker to Ashleigh Chiaf of Missouri while the doubles tandem of Maddy Soule and Colarossi lost 8-6 to a top team from Iowa.

"Brittany played very well and was very aggressive. It was great for her to win that flight," McInerney said. "Christina had a great win over a top player from Iowa. She showed off an aggressive style she needs to continue to play. Beth Ganser put together a very complete match and showed the ability to step up to a new level. And Chelsea Bailey suffered a tough loss but that was the best player she played this weekend and she got the match all the way to a tiebreaker. Everyone contributed to our success this weekend."

UWM's fall schedule continues next weekend at the Northern Iowa Invitational.