No. 12 Badgers start Big Ten schedule with matches in Minneapolis

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin women’s tennis team kicks-off its Big Ten campaign on Friday at 3:30 p.m. (CT) with a rivalry match against Minnesota in Minneapolis. The team also faces Iowa on Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT).
 
Here are five things to know:
 
1. KNOW THE OPPONENTS: Minnesota jumped into the ITA team rankings this week, going from unranked to No. 60. The team sits at 5-5 overall and is coming off a 4-1 loss to Memphis on February 26.

Iowa also sits at .500 on the season with a record of 4-4. The Hawkeyes faced in-state rivals, No. 4 Iowa State on February 24 and lost 4-0. The team was previously ranked No. 40 in the country but dropped down to No. 64 in the updated rankings.

2. LOOKING BACK: The Badgers are 42-24 all-time against the Gophers with the two sides last facing each other last season. Wisconsin beat the then ranked No. 61 Gophers 4-3. It was a dramatic, come-from-behind win for the Badgers who rallied with four singles victories.

Wisconsin has a dominant 43-11 all-time record against the Hawkeyes. Last time out the badgers lost 4-3 to Iowa on Feb. 19, 2021.

3. RECAPPING THE WEEK: Wisconsin had the week off after playing the past three weekends on the road. The Badgers are on a six game win streak, holding a record of 9-2, and came in ranked No. 12 in this week’s ITA team rankings. There are only two other Big Ten teams ahead of Wisconsin in the rankings, those two being No. 3 Ohio State and No. 5 Michigan.

 

4. HOW TO FOLLOW: Follow along with the matches through both livestream and live stats. Also, follow the Wisconsin women’s tennis on Twitter (@BadgerWTennis) and Instagram (@badgerwtennis).

 

5. UP NEXT: The Badgers play Rutgers on Wednesday, March 15 in New Orleans for another Big Ten match. First serve is set for noon.