UW-Stout 6, UW-River Falls 3

MENOMONIE (October 10, 2021) - UW-Stout grabbed a 6-3 conference win over UW-River Falls in a varsity match that went well over three hours for the two combatants Sunday at the South Courts.
 

The Blue Devils (3-4, 1-3 WIAC) opened with two doubles wins at No. 1 and No. 2 and carried the momentum into singles where Stout took wins at Nos. 1, 3, 4, and 6 singles to take their first conference win of the season. 

"It was a good win for the team," said coach Bryce Supri. "They've kept working hard in practice every day and really stepped up in doubles today. The 2-1 lead after doubles was huge for momentum going into singles play."

While all of the doubles matches were close, the Blue Devils were able to close out No. 1 and No. 2 doubles heading into the singles matches.

Lauren Couves and Annie Sandry defeated Kailey Courteau and Chloe Struss, 8-5, at No. 1 doubles, while Ellie Becker and Mariah Kent took an 8-6 win over Alexis Budzinski and Abbie Reed at No. 2. Anna Kent and Macy Hanson dropped an 8-4 decision at No. 3 doubles.

"Everyone did a great job of closing out points and games when given the chance," Supri said. "No. 2 doubles was up 7-6 with Mariah (Kent) serving for the match, and she closed it out easily."

At singles, Couves won handily over Courteau, 6-2, 6-2. Becker was up 6-5 in the first set at No. 3 singles, and took the set 7-6 and went on to a 6-0 decision in the second set.

Mariah Kent came back from a 6-3 first set loss to win the final two sets at No. 4 singles over Struss, 6-3, 6-1. Kyrstin Hanson got the decisive win for the Blue Devils, winning 6-3, 6-4, at No. 6 singles, and won the match serving ahead 5-4 in the final set and closed out the match, giving Stout the lead for good, taking Stout's fifth win of the day. 

Sandry, playing at No. 2 singles, played a marathon match of more than two hours, before falling to Budzinski, 6-7, 6-4, 10-6.  Anna Kent lost at No. 5 singles, 7-5, 6-2.

The match was Stout's final home match of the season. The Blue Devils will be at UW-Whitewater, Saturday, Oct. 16, then will travel to UW-Oshkosh, Sunday, Oct. 17 to take on the Titans in the morning in a conference match, then close out the regular season with a non-conference contest against Marian University.