Tammie Spiel
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Tennis Looks To Rebound In Peoria
Two matches on weekend slate for UWM tennis
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Feb. 4, 2003 MILWAUKEE -
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team (1-4) will continue the spring portion of the 2002-03 season this weekend with a pair of matches against Illinois schools. Saturday, the Panthers will take on DePaul in Peoria, Ill., at 4 p.m., while Sunday finds the Panthers facing Bradley at 10 a.m. in Peoria.
Last Time Out
The Panthers made their return after the winter layoff and were defeated by UIC by a 7-0 count. The Panthers combined to win just five games in singles matches, with Margie Van Lieshout winning four of the five games. Alyssa Halcomb picked up the lone other win, as four players were downed by identical 6-0, 6-0 scores.
This Week's Opponents
DePaul traditionally has one of the strongest programs in the Midwest, and, while not currently ranked in the top 75 in the nation, still carries a 3-3 record on the season. The Blue Demons are currently ranked 11th in the Midwest. Bradley, meanwhile, stands at 0-5 on the season after finishing the fall 0-3.
Series Records
The Panthers and Braves have met four times on the tennis courts since 1990, with each team taking two victories. Bradley has won the past two meetings between the two schools, including a 4-3 victory over UWM last March in Jackson, Wis. DePaul, meanwhile, owns a 3-0 mark over UWM all-time. The Blue Demons swept the Panthers, 7-0, last year in Chicago.
Player of the Week
After going nearly three years without without having a UWM tennis player named Player of the Week, it took freshman Alyssa Halcomb just a month into her first season to accomplish the feat twice. Halcomb was most recently named Player of the Week on Oct. 29 following her play at the ITA Midwest Regional. She previously earned the honor for the week ending Oct. 13 after leading the Panthers to a victory over Missouri-Kansas City. That victory ended the Panthers' 28-match losing streak and was the first time since Erin Jex took over as head coach that the Panthers shut out an opponent. Halcomb was the first Panther to earn the league's weekly honor since Kristine Miller won the award on April 27, 2000.
Off and Running
The two newcomers to this year's team both had impressive debuts Sept. 21 at Whitewater, collecting both of the team's wins. At No. 2 singles, Alyssa Halcomb collected her first collegiate win, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, while Margie Van Lieshout also picked up career win number one at No. 4 singles, winning 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. The pair also had a strong weekend at the Ball State Invitational, where they both finished fourth in their flight. Van Lieshout picked up her fourth win of the season at Indianapolis, raising her record to 4-3 on the season.
Spring Season = Some Success
Over the past three seasons, the Panthers have had more success in the spring portion of the season than in the fall, as UWM has picked up 12 wins in the spring session. During the fall, UWM has picked up just three wins in the last four years, including the victory over Missouri-Kansas City on Oct. 12. The Panthers are a combined 12-36 in the spring season, for a .250 winning percentage, compared to the 3-13 (.188) they have accumulated over the fall season during the same time frame.
Caulk Climbs the Lists
Senior Molly Caulk stands in fourth place all-time in career matches with 75 matches played after the match with UIC Sunday. Caulk moved alone into fourth place with the season-opening match at UW-Whitewater on Sept. 21. She ended last season with 72, tied with Lori Rocklewitz, who played from 1993-97, and Tori Whitlinger, who played from 1994-98. Angi Bayer holds the school mark with 86 matches played, a mark Caulk is on pace to break during the Horizon League Tournament.
Freshmen Finding Success
Freshmen Margie Van Lieshout and Alyssa Halcomb both have had a solid start to their freshman seasons. Van Lieshout picked up her fourth win of the season Oct. 19 at Indianapolis, while Halcomb won her fourth match Oct. 24 at the ITA Regionals. The Panthers have had a trend of success from freshmen, as UWM has had a freshman win at least six matches each year for the past three years. Megan Brown picked up six last season, while Cassie Kuranz won the same number in her freshman campaign. Molly Caulk started the trend by winning nine matches during her rookie season in 1999-2000. The UWM record for wins in a season by a freshman is 14, held by Angi Bayer in 1992-93 and Tori Whitlinger in 1994-95.
Spring Break in Sunny Milwaukee
For the first time since the 1998-99 season, and the first time since coach Erin Jex took over the UWM tennis program, the Panthers will not be taking a training trip during Spring Break. Last year, UWM traveled to Texas for matches against Texas-Pan American, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and St. Mary's of Texas. The Panthers went 0-3 on last year's trip. Since moving to Division I in 1990, the Panthers are 9-17 all-time on Spring Break trips.
Up Next
The Panthers are off until March 1, when Horizon League rival Cleveland State comes to town for a 10 a.m. contest in Brookfield, Wis.
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