No. 30 Wisconsin rallies to defeat No. 32 Illinois

MADISON, Wis. – The No. 30 women’s tennis team earned its 13th-straight win against No. 32 Illinois on Sunday, Apr. 7. The Badgers took down the Fighting Illini, 4-2, to remain undefeated in conference play. This win marked head coach Kelcy McKenna‘s 100th win with Wisconsin. 

Wisconsin began doubles competition with Ariel Johnson and Ellison Reynoldson, a new pairing in the No. 3 slot. The pair fought hard in a back-and-forth battle but dropped 7-5. Despite intense effort by Taylor Cataldi and Rosie Garcia Gross, the doubles point went in favor of Illinois.

Maria Sholokhova was again the first to clinch a point for the Badgers on the singles point, defeating her Illinois opponent in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4. Ariel Johnson and Taylor Cataldi proved themselves yet again on the singles court after they rallied back to their second and third sets to put the Badgers ahead. Xinyu Cai was the deciding factor for the Badger win. She claimed the victory with two 7-5 sets.

Doubles 

Sholokhova/Cai retired Heuser/Xu: 5-5

Frazier/Ferrari def. Cataldi/Garcia Gross: 6-4 

Treiber/Schaefbauer def. Johnson/Reynoldson: 7-5 

Singles

Maria Sholokhova def. Heuser: 6-4, 6-4

Taylor Cataldi def. Schaefbauer: 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 

Xinyu Cai def. Frazier: 7-5, 7-5  

Ariel Johnson def. Treiber: 5-7, 6-2, 6-3

Ferrari def. Kaja Jacobson: 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 

Rosie Garcia Gross retired Xu: 6-7, 5-4  

Up Next

The Badgers are at home to take on No. 2 Michigan on Friday, Apr. 12. Doubles play will begin at 4:00 p.m., with singles to follow.