Tennis teams compete for first time since break
Both men and women combine to finish 3-0 in weekend matches in Minnesota
Nick Gourdoux
Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: Sports
Womens
The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team competed in its first match since spring break Saturday. The women competed in five matches over spring break while in Orlando, Fla. Over the trip, the Blugolds finished their matches with scores of 5-4, 1-8, 9-0, 2-7, and 3-6. The Blugolds defeated St. Catherine (Minn.) 7-2 on Saturday to put an end to a two match losing streak.
Senior Sarah Riordan and sophomore Gina Dahl won their doubles match 8-4, while senior Kristie Carlson and sophomore Erin Welch won 8-5 as the Blugolds were victorious in two of their three doubles matches.
Riordan said the teams' recent trip to Florida could help it rebound and get back on the winning track.
"We had some really good practice in Florida," Riordan said. "We're really excited to play. We have confidence and we're having fun."
Coach Craig Monson agrees that the competition in Florida helped them prepare for their upcoming matches.
"We played some tough teams," Monson said. "We played the best competition we could."
In singles, Riordan blanked her opponent, 6-0, 6-0. Dahl was victorious in singles as well with a 7-5, 6-2 victory in second level play. Carlson won 6-1, 6-2 in third level play, and Welch won 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth level competition. Freshman Michelle Reinders also blanked her opponent 6-0, 6-0 in the sixth level.
"I think this win will help us get off to a good start," Riordan said.
The women will compete again at 11 a.m. April 6 against St. Scholastica (Minn.) in Duluth, Minn.
Monson and Riordan are confident the team can get back to its winning ways.
"We practice three times a week," Riordan said. "We work on what is needed to win."
"(Our practices are) Nothing special. We'll keep doing what we've been doing," Monson said. "We need to stay focused."
Mens
The men's tennis team also played this weekend. In a pair of matches in St. Paul, Minn. on Sunday, the team finished 16-2. The men swept Hamline (Minn.), 9-0 in their first match on Sunday. The second match of the day was against Mankato (Minn.), a 7-2 victory for the Blugolds.
The men's team also played over spring break. In five days the men played six matches while in Hilton Head, S.C.
The men enjoyed more success than the women did over their spring break games. The team won all six matches it played. The men finished their matches 7-2, 8-1, 9-0, 9-0, 8-1, 5-4 which combines to a total of 46-8. The matches over the weekend were the first for the men since their trip
The men play again at 4 p.m. Friday, in Rock Island, Ill. and again on Saturday at 10 a.m.
The UW-Eau Claire women's tennis team competed in its first match since spring break Saturday. The women competed in five matches over spring break while in Orlando, Fla. Over the trip, the Blugolds finished their matches with scores of 5-4, 1-8, 9-0, 2-7, and 3-6. The Blugolds defeated St. Catherine (Minn.) 7-2 on Saturday to put an end to a two match losing streak.
Senior Sarah Riordan and sophomore Gina Dahl won their doubles match 8-4, while senior Kristie Carlson and sophomore Erin Welch won 8-5 as the Blugolds were victorious in two of their three doubles matches.
Riordan said the teams' recent trip to Florida could help it rebound and get back on the winning track.
"We had some really good practice in Florida," Riordan said. "We're really excited to play. We have confidence and we're having fun."
Coach Craig Monson agrees that the competition in Florida helped them prepare for their upcoming matches.
"We played some tough teams," Monson said. "We played the best competition we could."
In singles, Riordan blanked her opponent, 6-0, 6-0. Dahl was victorious in singles as well with a 7-5, 6-2 victory in second level play. Carlson won 6-1, 6-2 in third level play, and Welch won 6-2, 6-2 in the fourth level competition. Freshman Michelle Reinders also blanked her opponent 6-0, 6-0 in the sixth level.
"I think this win will help us get off to a good start," Riordan said.
The women will compete again at 11 a.m. April 6 against St. Scholastica (Minn.) in Duluth, Minn.
Monson and Riordan are confident the team can get back to its winning ways.
"We practice three times a week," Riordan said. "We work on what is needed to win."
"(Our practices are) Nothing special. We'll keep doing what we've been doing," Monson said. "We need to stay focused."
Mens
The men's tennis team also played this weekend. In a pair of matches in St. Paul, Minn. on Sunday, the team finished 16-2. The men swept Hamline (Minn.), 9-0 in their first match on Sunday. The second match of the day was against Mankato (Minn.), a 7-2 victory for the Blugolds.
The men's team also played over spring break. In five days the men played six matches while in Hilton Head, S.C.
The men enjoyed more success than the women did over their spring break games. The team won all six matches it played. The men finished their matches 7-2, 8-1, 9-0, 9-0, 8-1, 5-4 which combines to a total of 46-8. The matches over the weekend were the first for the men since their trip
The men play again at 4 p.m. Friday, in Rock Island, Ill. and again on Saturday at 10 a.m.
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