MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Milwaukee tennis team continues to jump right into the 2018 season by competing in two more matches beginning Friday, Jan. 26 against in-state rival Wisconsin and will then return to face Colorado State on Sunday, Jan. 28.
LAST TIME OUT: Milwaukee dropped it's season opener to the Omaha Mavericks, 6-1, but the match was highlighted by freshman
Loren Nelson's first collegiate victory. Nelson won at No. 3 singles in 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 1-0 (12-10) fashion. Following Friday's match, UWM was edged out by DePaul 4-3.
WHEN AND WHERE: The Panthers and Badgers will meet for the seventh time in program history on Friday, Jan. 26 at Brookfield Elite Tennis Club. The dual between the two teams is set for 6:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, Jan. 28, Milwaukee will also play host to Colorado State at River Glen Elite with a 1 p.m. start time.
OPPOSITE THE NET VS. WISCONSIN: In 2017, the Badgers finished with a final record of 4-16 (0-11 BIG10). This weekend marks their first set of competitive matches since the fall opening up against Marquette on Friday before facing the Panthers. This year's team is led by redshirt senior Sara Castellano and the highly touted freshman Lexi Keberle.
Castellano, a two-time transfer coming from McNeese State and recently Kansas State. At K-State, Castellano tallied a 13-13 mark in singles action competing primarily in the No. 1 spot. At McNeese State as a freshman, Castellano was tabbed Southland Conference Freshman of the Year and achieved a singles record of 18-3, including a 12-0 mark in Southland Conference matches.
Freshman Lexi Keberle comes in with promise as she was ranked the number one player in the state of Wisconsin, and ranked No. 26 in the nation. The West Bend (Wis.) native finished her fall season with a 12-5 record.
OPPOSITE THE NET VS. COLORADO STATE: The Rams are coming off of a 3-4 loss to Colorado in its season opener. The 2018 squad consists of just one junior while the rest of the team consists of sophomores and freshmen. Of the eight team members, three hail from Wisconsin – Elm Grove, Hartland and Stevens Point.
CSU finished 9-14 (0-6 Mountain West) record in 2017.
#TBT: On this date in 2012, Milwaukee defeated Chicago State 6-1.
UP NEXT: After their two-match homestand, UWM hits the road for four-straight matches. Milwaukee will travel to Northern Illinois for a single-match weekend on Friday, February 2. The Panthers and Huskies are set to square off at the Boylan Tennis Center at 12 p.m.
