UWM Gets Set For Spring Trip to CaliforniaMarch 16, 2004 MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team is coming off a disappointing weekend as they found themselves on the losing end to two Indiana teams. The Panthers fell 7-0 to both Ball State and IUPUI. The Panthers are looking to get back on track this week as they prepare for their spring road trip to California. They will face off against Southern Utah, California-Riverside and Cal-State Fullerton. * The Week Ahead The Panthers will be heading to sunny California Friday, as they will take on Southern Utah in Riverside. UWM will continue its play in Riverside on Saturday, playing the hosts from UC-Riverside. The Panthers will wrap up their weekend trip on Sunday, squaring off against Cal-State Fullerton. * Scouting the Opponent Southern Utah currently has a 1-2 match play record and have played two of UWM's season opponents in UWGB and Bradley. Southern Utah is led by the play of its Mid-Continent Athlete of the Week Kim Beynon. Beynon, a junior from South Africa, currently has a 4-2 record playing in the #3 singles spot. The Thunderbirds have a solid doubles tandem in Garcia/Walker who currently have a 3-0 record playing in the #2 spot. UC-Riverside is currently 7-5, a mark which has earned them a #75 national ranking. Sophomore Cassie Cross leads the Highlanders with a record of 11-5 in the #2 spot. Freshman Kim Tran plays in the #3 slot, posting a 12-7 record. Junior Michelle Beyronnean has totaled 10 wins on the season playing as the team's ace at the #1 spot. Cal-State Fullerton will bring a 6-5 mark into its match with UWM. The Titans have two strong underclassmen in Ruya Inapulat and Gina Lee. As a sophomore, Inapulat has totaled five wins while playing at the #1 spot. Lee, a freshman, has collected a 5-5 mark playing in the #2 position. The Titans have had strong doubles play thanks to the duo of Lee and teammate Nicole Arias. The two have recorded a team-best 4-1 record playing at the #3 spot. The Week in Review The Panthers dropped two matches this past weekend, starting with a 7-0 loss t\o Ball State on Friday. UWM then played IUPUI in Indianapolis, where they dropped another 7-0 decision. Although there were no victories, UWM head coach Erika Wentz was pleased with the strong play of Margie Van Lieshout. Van Lieshout dropped a close 6-3, 7-6 decision to Brookley Crews of IUPUI. "Margie played smart tennis," Wentz said. "That was the best she's played all year." A Place to Call Home The spring schedule marks a welcomed change for UWM tennis, as the team will host a school-record seven home matches at the Highlander Elite Fitness and Racquet Club in Brookfield. Head coach Erika Wentz calls the Highlander one of the premier racquet clubs in the Milwaukee area. The team will continue to practice at the North Shore Elite club in Glendale. That Senior Spark As UWM's lone senior, Cassie Kuranz is looking to continue her success in her final campaign. Kuranz currently has a team-best 6-4 record playing the #6 singles. Finding Success in Doubles The Panthers continue to perform well in doubles action. The tandem of Tammie Spiel and Megan Brown have won four of their last six matches, including a 8-4 win over the duo of Wood/Cain of Bradley. With that victory, Spiel and Brown have a team best 5-4 record this spring. Melissa Hackett and Kristen Bauknecht also collected a win against Bradley, their second in a row. Playing the #3 doubles Hackett and Bauknecht won a close 8-6 match over Bradley's Bianchi/Robertson. "#2 and #3 doubles are continuing to do very well," UWM head coach Erika Wentz said. Adding To The Schedule
UWM was able to add a third match to its trip this week - the March 20 contest with Southern Utah. Early on, UWM had scheduled UC-Riverside and Cal-State Fullerton for the trip. Head coach Erika Wentz has been aggressive in adding matches for the Panthers, who will play 15 matches this spring, including seven home matches.
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