Anytime you see a WIAC matchup on the schedule, you know you are in for a treat. A warm and sunny afternoon set the stage for the visiting UW-Eau Claire Blugolds taking on the UW-Whitewater Warhawks for a women’s tennis match on Saturday. There were close sets on every single court, but the Warhawks prevailed, winning 8-1. Although the end score was not close, the matches were anything but. It was a significant match for the Warhawks, coming off their first conference loss in 18 years, falling to UW-La Crosse Aug. 30. 

Head coach Frank Barnes touched on the fact that he made sure he didn’t over-talk the match.

“I treated it just as any other match, not putting any importance on it, but it was really important (because of the prior loss),” Barnes said. “We try not to make any one match too important. [But] by getting this win, I think we are right back on track.” 

A big factor in the matches was how the Warhawks were able to finish strong. Barnes made it clear how proud he was for the way his team finished every match.

“There were several matches where we got out to a big lead, or it was back and forth, but at every court where we had to win at, we put our foot down right at the end and really finished strong at every court,” Barnes said.

Overall, UW-Whitewater bounced back in a huge way. Three players that stood out the most from the day’s clash were senior Cassie Lee and freshmen Ava Andrae and Abby Weaver. Lee and junior Gracie Ha excelled in their No. 1 doubles match with each other, winning 8-2. Andrae and Weaver also made huge statements, picking up the win 8-6 as the No. 2 doubles. Weaver then went on to contribute in her singles match with two sets of 6-2 victories. 

Two freshmen on the same doubles can have growing pains, but Andrae and Weaver have diminished theirs and built their chemistry collectively instead.

“I love playing with Abby. We just have similar games so it’s been super fun, and we hope to stay doubles partners for years,” Andrae mentioned.

On the flip side, the upperclassmen have had their fair share of repetitions together, and Lee and Ha proved that. They won their doubles match and both had singles matches that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Ha wound up falling in her match 1-6, 6-2, and falling short 10-5 in the tiebreaker. However, Lee said one was enough. This wasn’t the first time Lee had seen her foe, Eau Claire senior Samantha Fuchs. They matched up earlier in the day in their doubles, but have also seen each other eight times prior. This matchup wound up being one of the most exciting. 

After losing the first set 3-6, winning the second 6-2, it looked like momentum was on Lee’s side. In the tiebreaker, Fuchs grabbed a very early lead, going up 6-2. Barnes pulled Lee aside and reassured her to stick to the strategy they had crafted.

“After the first set [the game plan] wasn’t working out too well so I changed it a little bit, still kept steady targets and I still wanted to go for my shots a little more,” Lee explained. “It’s a hot day, I know she was tired, I was trying to just keep my energy, have more energy than she did, and I think I was successful in doing so.” 

And succeed she did. Lee battled back to win the tiebreaker 10-7. The Warhawks had already won the meet but it was icing on the cake for the purple and white. 

Whitewater hits the road this weekend for the Midwest ITA Regionals showdown in St. Peter, Minnesota from Sept. 20 to Sept. 23.