Titans Host Blugolds In Tennis Season Opener
A veteran UW-Oshkosh women's tennis team commences the 2017-18 season by hosting UW-Eau Claire on Friday (Sept. 1) at the Kolf Sports Center Complex.
The season opener is the first of five home matches for the Titans during the fall portion of the schedule. UW-Oshkosh also welcomes Ripon College on Sept. 5, Marian University on Sept. 7, UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 5 and UW-Stout on Oct. 13 to its home venue.
The Titans have won 12 consecutive meetings with Ripon College and each of their six contests with Marian University.
UW-Oshkosh returns nine letter winners among its roster of 12 players for third-year head coach Robert Henshaw. The Titans concluded the 2016-17 season with a 9-11 record, including a fourth-place 3-3 mark in the WIAC.
Following the home opener, the Titans head to the UW-Whitewater Invitational on Saturday (Sept. 2) and to Ashwaubenon for a match against St. Norbert College on Sept. 10.
UW-Oshkosh then travels to the Hope College Invitational in Holland, Mich., on Sept. 15-16 and to the ITA Midwest Regional on Sept. 22-24 in St. Peter, Minn., before concluding non-conference action with a match at Lawrence University on Sept. 26. The Titans own a 19-4 record against Lawrence University.
The Titans get back to league play at UW-River Falls on Oct. 1 and UW-Whitewater on Oct. 3. Rounding out UW-Oshkosh's WIAC slate is a road match at UW-La Crosse on Oct. 12.
UW-Oshkosh culminates the fall season at the WIAC Championship on Oct. 20-21 in Madison. WIAC Championship results account for two-thirds of the overall conference title while the dual-meet league standings count for one-third.
Last season, the Titans finished fourth in both the dual-meet standings and the WIAC Championship for the third consecutive season. UW-Whitewater claimed last year's overall league championship by winning both the dual-meet standings and the conference tournament.
UW-Eau Claire was the WIAC runner-up a year ago while UW-La Crosse placed third, UW-Stout fifth, UW-Stevens Point sixth and UW-River Falls seventh. Last year, the Titans secured league victories over UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Stout.
UW-Oshkosh welcomes back each of its six singles players, including senior Bailey Sagen, who compiled a 10-16 record at No. 1 singles a season ago.
Also returning for the Titans are sophomore Alyssa Leffler (8-10 record at No. 2 singles), junior Hannah Peters (6-17 at No. 3), sophomore Lesley Kutnink (3-5 at No. 4), sophomore Samantha Koppa (12-6 at No. 5) and sophomore Monica Micoliczyk (7-14 at No. 6).
UW-Oshkosh will begin its spring portion of the 2017-18 season in April.