Megan Brown is 2-3 on the early season in 2002-03
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Panthers Try To Keep Momentum Going
UWM heads to Hoosier State looking for second-straight win
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Oct. 14, 2002 MILWAUKEE -
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's tennis team (1-1) will look to continue its winning ways Saturday with a pair of non-league matches in the Hoosier State. The Panthers will take on the Jaguars of IUPUI at 9 a.m. before facing the University of Indianapolis at 2 p.m.
The Opponents
IUPUI - The Jaguars are a perfect 2-0 on the season after wins over Bradley and Illinois Wesleyan. The Panthers and Jaguars both competed at the Ball State Invitational on Oct. 4-5. Only Erin Felber and Margie Van Lieshout faced any players from IUPUI at Ball State, with both falling in two sets.
Indianapolis - The Greyhounds compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and have qualified for the 2002 Division II Tennis Championships after winning the GLVC title last weekend. Indianapolis is 15-1 on the season and collected a perfect 6-0 mark in the GLVC. Their lone loss came on Oct. 1 against Division III DePauw.
The Series
Milwaukee and IUPUI have been regular opponents for the past seven seasons, with the Jaguars holding a slight edge in the overall series, 4-3. IUPUI has claimed victory in the past two meetings, with UWM's last win coming on April 8, 2000, in Milwaukee. Saturday's other opponent, the University of Indianapolis, has not faced the Panthers since UWM moved to Division I in 1990.
Last Time Out
The Panthers snapped a 28-match losing skid Saturday against Missouri-Kansas City in Chicago. The Panthers swept the Kangaroos, taking every match in straight sets. The sweep was the first of head coach Erin Jex's three-year coaching career at UWM.
Off and Running
The two newcomers to this year's team both had impressive debuts Sept. 21at 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. They both picked up win number three on their collegiate careers Saturday against UMKC, raising their records to 3-2 on the young season.
Caulk Climbs the Lists
Senior Molly Caulk stands in fourth place all-time in career matches with 74 matches played after the match with UMKC this weekend. 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 on April 19 against Butler.
Freshmen Finding Success
After picking up their third wins of the season against Missouri-Kansas City, Alyssa Halcomb and Margie Van Lieshout both have a solid start to their freshman seasons. 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 slated to compete at the Michigan State ITA Tennis Regional on Oct. 24-25 in East Lansing, Mich. Alyssa Halcomb, Margie Van Lieshout and Tammie Spiel will likely be the three Panthers competing at Michigan State. Milwaukee resumes dual match play on February 1, when they travel to Chicago to face Horizon League rival UIC.
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