Des Moines, Iowa - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee tennis team had a dominating showing in doubles play to kick off their season at the difficult Drake Invitational Friday.Alysa Straub and Mardee Merar claimed a pair of wins in doubles play of the top flight. The sophomore-freshman duo won their first match of the day 8-5 before breezing to an 8-2 win to advance to the quarterfinals.
In the `B' flight doubles, Chelsea Bailey and Christina Colarossi won both of their first two matches, 8-4. They also advance to tomorrow's quarterfinal round after a great first day of the season.
Merar also claimed an impressive win in singles play. The newcomer won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, to make quite a first impression in her collegiate debut.
The Panthers just missed a pair of wins in the top flight singles action. Colarossi battled hard before falling to Creighton's Jennie Hartjes. Straub had one of the more thrilling matches of the day, taking the first set from Northern Colorado's Hilary Walters-West before falling in extras, 5-7, 6-2, 10-7.
Action from Des Moines continues both Saturday and Sunday.
