Marshall University Athletics
@Herd_Tennis Hosts Wisconsin for Saturday Matinee
1/20/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - The Marshall women's tennis team continues its four-match homestand to open the season when it hosts the Wisconsin Badgers Saturday afternoon. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
HAVE YOU HERD?
Marshall looks to bounce back after suffering its first defeat of the season, a 4-0 loss to No. 20 Kentucky. Maddie Silver and Rachael Morales combined to win a doubles match for the Herd. Derya Turhan and Stephanie Smith were leading their respective singles matches when the Wildcats clinched the match win.
Marshall defeated Eastern Michigan in its season opener, 6-1. The win marked the 13th consecutive time that the Herd defeated its former Mid-American conference foe. The Herd won all three doubles matches and five of the six singles matches against the Eagles, losing one in a third set tiebreaker.
Saturday's match is one of three home matches against Big Ten Conference opponents for the Herd. In addition to hosting Wisconsin Saturday, Marshall will host Minnesota next Saturday and Penn State on Feb. 24.
SCOUTING THE BADGERS
Saturday's match will be the first match of the season for Wisconsin. The Badgers went 9-14 last year and reached the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament last year before being knocked out by eventual champion Ohio State. Wisconsin returns four players from last year's squad and has four newcomers. Wisconsin also has a new head coach as former Marshall assistant coach Kelcy McKenna replaces Tina Samara, who took the same position at Pacific.
Saturday's match will be the first matchup for Wisconsin against a Conference USA opponent since the Badgers defeated UTEP, 5-2, during the 2015 season.
#ONEHERD
For the latest information on Marshall women's tennis, follow @Herd_Tennis on Twitter, @herdtennis on Instagram and Herd Tennis on Facebook.
UP NEXT
The Herd wraps up its four-match homestand when it hosts Minnesota next Saturday. First serve is set for 5 p.m.
