Jan. 21, 2012

MADISON, Wis. - The UIC women's tennis team (0-1) were in a battle from start to finish, but were unable to top Wisconsin, as they fell 5-2 Saturday at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wis.

In doubles play, Elisa Simonetti and Teona Tsertsvadze went back-and-forth with Wisconsin's tandem of Hannah Berner and Alaina Trgovich in the No. 1 position, taking the game to 8-8 and ultimately falling 7-2 in the tiebreaker.

Haley Craig and Mariya Kovaleva took on Angela Chupa and Aleksandra Markovic in the No. 2 spot, but were unable to grab the win with a 8-5 decision. Jana Knoppe and Kathryn Sharples rounded out the No. 3 position, but were defeated by Caroline Bauer and Lauren Gruber, 9-8 (7-0), after going to the tiebreaker.

The squad was able to capture two wins while competing in singles against the Badgers. Simonetti took out Markovic in the No. 3 slot by a final of 6-2, 7-5, while Craig defeated Gruber 6-2, 6-3.

Knoppe was in a close match-up with Wisconsin's Trgovich, taking the first set 3-6 but then falling in the second and third 6-1, 6-1.

The Flames regroup and head to Milwaukee, Wis., to take on Marquette on Saturday, Jan. 28, in a morning showdown at 10 a.m. (CT) at Helfaer Tennis Stadium.


Doubles
1. Berner/Trgovich (UW) def. Simonetti/Tsertsvadze (UIC) - 9-8 (7-2)
2. Chupa/Markovic (UW) def. Craig/Kovaleva (UIC) - 8-5
3. Bauer/Gruber (UW) def. Knoppe/Sharples (UIC) - 9-8 (7-0)
Order of finish: 2, 3, 1

Singles
1. Hannah Berner (UW) def. Mariya Kovaleva (UIC) - 6-3, 7-5
2. Sarah Loebel (UW) def. Teona Tsertsvadze (UIC) - 6-3, 6-4
3. Elisa Simonetti (UIC) def. Aleksandra Markovic (UW) - 6-2, 7-5
4. Alaina Trgovich (UW) def. Jana Knoppe (UIC) - 3-6, 6-1, 6-1
5. Haley Craig (UIC) def. Lauren Gruber (UW) - 6-2, 6-3
6. Caroline Bauer (UW) def. Kathryn Sharples (UIC) - 6-2, 6-3
Order of finish: 5, 2, 6, 3, 4, 1