Slinger's McGuire Part of Women's Tennis Conference Championship at UW-Whitewater

2017 Oct 23

Bridgid McGuire, a native of Slinger, WI, and graduate of Slinger High School, is a member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater women's tennis team, which earned four individual singles championships and two doubles titles Sunday to win the two-day Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship Presented by Culver's at Nielsen Tennis Stadium in Madison, Wis.

The Warhawks tallied their 11th consecutive conference championship thanks to a 6-0 regular season finish, which accounted for seven points, and the tournament title, which generated 14 points for a total of 21. UW-La Crosse finished second with 17.

As champion, UW-Whitewater earns the right to host the WIAC Final Four AQ Tournament on April 28. The winner of that four-team tournament will clinch the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship, which begins May 11.

Seniors Bridgid McGuire (Slinger/Slinger), Jillian Wallace (Crystal Lake, IL/Central), freshmen Paige Nierman (Hawthorn Woods, Ill./Stevenson) and Sabrina Palavra (Skokie, Ill./Niles North) picked up singles championships for the Warhawks.

McGuire registered the second singles title of her career, winning the No. 2 draw with victories over UW-Eau Claire's Sarah Henderson (6-4, 6-3) and UW-La Crosse's Hayley Clope (6-2, 6-1).

Wallace wrapped up the fourth singles championship of her career at No. 3, posting a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over UW-Oshkosh's Hannah Peters in the semifinals and a 6-3, 6-3 win over UW-Eau Claire's Molly Stewart in the final.

Nierman bested UW-Oshkosh's Lesley Kutnink 6-1, 6-2, and downed UW-La Crosse's Alaina Bublitz 6-0, 6-1 en route to the title at No. 5.

At No. 6 singles, Palavra collected a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the semifinals over UW-Stout's Kennedy Kleist and a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Tayler Garves of UW-La Crosse in the championship match.

Senior Alexandra Talyansky (Mequon/Homestead) and junior Julie Martin (Morton, Ill./Morton) finished as runners-up at the Nos. 1 and 4 draws, respectively.

Martin and senior Brittany Goebel (McHenry, IL/West) finished their run through the No. 3 doubles flight with an 8-3 win over Maura Andersen and Kitren Bonine of UW-La Crosse. The performance was Goebel's second straight championship at the fifth flight.

McGuire and Wallace clinched the No. 1 doubles championship with an 8-4 victory over UW-La Crosse's Bridget Bellissimo and Sadie Spahn. The title was McGuire's third in the top draw in the last four years and Wallace's fourth doubles championship overall.

Nierman and Talyansky were edged 9-8 (6) by UW-La Crosse in the No. 2 doubles final to finish as runner-up.

McGuire was selected to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team, which was announced at the tournament.

UW-Whitewater returns to competition March 10 with dual matches in Rock Island, Ill., against Gustavus Adolphus (Minn.) and host Augustana.