The women’s tennis team came back to Wisconsin with some success after defeating three of the four schools they played on their spring break trip in Georgia and South Carolina.

 
On March 24, the Warhawks defeated Carleton College 5-2 and Graceland University 9-0. On March 27, they went to Brunswick, Ga., and defeated the College of Coastal Georgia 8-1.
They played their final match of the trip on March 29 and lost to DePauw University 6-3.
The ’Hawks defeated two teams they won’t see in the upcoming spring season in Graceland University and the College of Coastal Georgia. Carleton College and DePauw University are both nationally ranked ahead of UW-Whitewater.
Senior Kalla Schaefer, the No. 2 ranked singles player in the Central Region, defeated her opponent from Carleton College but lost a three set battle to her opponent from DePauw University, Kelly Gebert.
Although some of the teams the ’Hawks have faced are ranked higher than them, Schaefer said she feels like the team has enough depth and experience to compete with any team.
“Our team strengths are our depth, our competitiveness and being able to support each other as a team,” Schaefer said. “I think having confidence and belief that we have a good chance against ranked teams is important for us.”
Schaefer fell to Gebert, but she teamed up with sophomore Alexandra Bayliss to win their doubles match against DePauw.
The No. 3 ranked doubles team of Schaefer and Bayliss defeated the No. 4 ranked doubles team of Gebert and Maggie MacPhail.
Bayliss and Schaefer head into the spring season after winning the doubles title at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association championships in Mobile, Ala., back in October.
Bayliss said the team will continue their success now in the spring and will make the post season.
“As a team, our goal is to qualify for the NCAA tournament in May and to win two or more rounds there,” Bayliss said. “My doubles partner and I really want to qualify for the individual national tournament as well.
“We have a lot of talent on our team so I think we’re going to have a very successful spring season.”
Next the ’Hawks will compete in the Midwest Invitational held at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison this Friday and Saturday.
Head coach Frank Barnes said the top nine teams from the Midwest will compete.
“With stiff competition back to back, the ladies are looking forward to a chance at moving up in the rankings,” Barnes said.