Wisconsin Women's Tennis Remains Unbeaten After Dominating Doubleheader

The Wisconsin women's tennis team maintained its flawless season record on Saturday by winning both matches in a doubleheader by identical scores. The Badgers defeated Bradley in the first contest and then shut out Green Bay in the second, bringing their overall mark to 6-0 for the 2026 season. This performance gives the program its strongest start to a season since 1992. Both victories were decisive, with Wisconsin dominating every point on the court.

The Badgers established early control during the doubles portion of the first match against Bradley. Freshman MaryAnn Rompf and senior Kelsey Grambeau defeated Theresa Tebon and Tallie Piaskowski with a score of 6-1. Sophomore Melissa Pick and freshman Lexi Keberle followed with a 6-0 win over Maria Neff and Samm Pedersen. The team's momentum carried into the singles matches, where no Wisconsin player lost a single set. Keberle, competing at first singles, defeated Tebon with scores of 6-1 and 6-1. She remains unbeaten in both singles and doubles competition, holding a combined personal record of 7-0.

Other players contributed significantly to the first victory. Rompf defeated Piaskowski in the second singles match with scores of 6-3 and 6-1. Michelle Linden secured a win at third singles against Sterre Tijssens, recording scores of 6-1 and 6-0. Pick completed the sweep by defeating Neff with two 6-0 scores. At fifth singles, Christina Zordani beat Pedersen with scores of 6-0 and 6-1, improving her individual singles record to 5-0 for the season.

In the second match against Green Bay, the visiting team was short-handed with only five players available. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Green Bay could not keep pace with the Badgers. Wisconsin again won all seven matches to secure a 7-0 victory. The consistent performance across both matches highlighted the depth and readiness of the Wisconsin squad. The team's ability to perform under different competitive conditions was evident in their results.

Head coach Kelcy McKenna attributed the team's success to factors within the players' control. She emphasized the importance of attitude, effort, and energy. McKenna stated that these three elements are critical to the team's continued success. She noted that the players executed these fundamentals effectively during the doubleheader. This focus on controllable factors has been a key part of the program's strategy this season.

Looking ahead, McKenna stressed the need for continuous improvement in daily routines. The coach said the team must concentrate on executing the small details correctly in practice. She highlighted the importance of managing details in day-to-day drills and match simulations. This preparation is designed to ensure the team is ready for the National Indoors and the remainder of the spring schedule. The goal is to maintain the high standard of play demonstrated in the recent matches.

Despite the perfect record, McKenna identified specific areas for refinement. She pointed to doubles as a primary focus, noting the need for better cleaning up of serves and returns. The coach wants the team to be the first to be aggressive and to hit their intended spots on service plays. She also emphasized the importance of carrying momentum from doubles into singles. McKenna said the team must remain gritty and avoid giving away free points when they hold a doubles lead.

The next scheduled competition for Wisconsin is the National Team Indoor Championship. The event is set to take place from Feb. 9 to 12. The Badgers will host the tournament on their home court. The team aims to extend its unbeaten start during this indoor season. This upcoming challenge will test the squad's ability to sustain their performance level in a different competitive environment.