2021-22 WIAC Kwik Trip Women's Tennis Athletes of the Week



Week of Oct. 11 - 17
Singles

Ellie Becker, Freshman (St. James, Minn./St. James), of UW-Stout
Becker snared UW-Stout’s lone win against UW-Whitewater on Oct. 16, and secured two wins at No. 3 singles on Oct. 17, to run her singles winning streak to five meets as UW-Stout defeated UW-Oshkosh, 9-0, and Marian University (Wis.), 9-0. Becker defeated the Warhawks’ Zenia Barretto, 3-6, 6-2, 10-7. Becker continued her strong play taking a 6-3, 6-2, win over the Titans' Jenna Nolde and a 6-0, 6-0 win over Marian's Julia Loomans. With the two wins, Becker extended her winning streak to five matches, stretching back to a tie-breaker win against Wisconsin Lutheran College on Oct. 3. Becker combined with Mariah Kent to win both matches on Oct. 17 at No. 2 doubles, 8-3 against UW-Oshkosh and 8-2 against Marian. On the season, Becker is 7-3 in singles and is 5-3 in doubles.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Alexa Brooks, Senior, Beaver Dam, Wis. (Beaver Dam)
UW-La Crosse, Kimberly, Steinert, Senior, Oshkosh, Wis. (West)
UW-Oshkosh, Michelle Spicer, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
UW-Stevens Point, Kaitlyn Hess, Senior, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln)
UW-Whitewater, Gianna Nikoleit, Freshman, Elmhurst, Ill. (York Community)
 
Doubles
Lindsey Henderson, Senior (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) & Elaine Franta, Junior (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake), of UW-Eau Claire
Henderson and Franta represented the Blugolds at the ITA National Tournament in Rome, Ga. In their opening match they dropped a 6-1, 6-0 decision to Goetz/Li of Emory University (Ga.), The duo rebounded to upend the No. 1 seed Landells/Roarty of The College of New Jersey. In the next round, Henderson and Franta fell 6-0, 6-0 to Ziehm/Kesterson of Southwestern University (Texas).

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Morgan Graf, Junior, Sullivan, Wis. (Jefferson) & Hannah Riegle, Junior, Chatham, Ill. (Glenwood)
UW-Oshkosh, Alyssa Pattee, Freshman, Waupun, Wis. (Waupun) & Hannah Stitt, Sophomore, Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville)
UW-Stevens Point, Barbara Covek, Junior, Barrington, Ill. (Barrington) & Jenna Koepp, Junior, Watertown, Wis. (Watertown)
UW-Stout, Lauren Couves, Junior, Ames, Iowa (Ames) & Annie Sandry, Senior, Clara City, Minn. (MACCRAY)
UW-Whitewater, Bryce Bigelow, Senior, Kenosha, Wis. (Tremper) & Madalyn Bigelow, Senior, Kenosha, Wis. (Tremper)



Week of Oct. 4 - 10
Singles

Tasha Bailey, Freshman (Wausau, Wis./West), of UW-La Crosse
Bailey improved to 9-3 overall, including 4-1 in the WIAC, with a pair of victories at No. 2 singles. She earned a 6-1, 6-3 win over Faith Leithold of UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 9 and a 6-4, 6-2 victory over UW-Eau Claire's Clare Palen on Oct. 10.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Samantha Fuchs, Freshman, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
UW-Oshkosh, Alyssa Pattee, Freshman, Waupun, Wis. (Waupun)
UW-Stout, Lauren Couves, Junior, Ames, Iowa (Ames)
UW-Whitewater, Olivia Kraft, Senior, Bloomington, Ill. (Normal Community)
 
Doubles
Alexa Brooks, Senior (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) & Morgan Nelson, Sophomore (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam), of UW-Eau Claire
Brooks and Nelson held strong in doubles during the week for the Blugolds. They secured the No. 3 doubles won against Bierbaum/Peterson of Bethel University (Minn.) 8-4. On Oct. 9, they  were victorious at No.3 doubles against conference opponents Graf/Riegle of UW-La Crosse 8-5. Brooks and Nelson went undefeated in all doubles matches during the week for the Blugolds.

Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Jenna Nolde, Freshman, Menominee, Mich. & Michelle Spicer, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
UW-Stout, Lauren Couves, Junior, Ames, Iowa (Ames) & Annie Sandry, Senior, Clara City, Minn. (MACCRAY)
UW-Whitewater, Molly Rueth, Senior, Wheaton, Ill. (Glenbard West) & Courtney Day, Junior, Oshkosh, Wis. (North)

 

Week of Sept. 27 - Oct. 3
Singles

Kaylee Woelfel, Senior (Plymouth, Wis./Plymouth), of UW-Stevens Point
Woelfel posted three wins on the week, improving her singles record to 12-0 on the season. Woelfel, who traditionally plays the No. 6 singles spot, played up in the Pointers lineup this past week. She earned a 6-3, 6-3 win over Hanna Stitt from UW Oshkosh at the No. 4 spot on Sept. 29, and followed that up with back-to-back wins on Oct. 2. Playing in the No. 1 singles spot, Woelfel was victorious over Ali Wingood from Concordia University-Chicago (Ill.) 6-3, 6-4 and  defeated Hanna Kelei from Alverno College (Wis.) 6-0, 6-0. Woelfel has been an integral senior leader and a huge reason the Pointers are off to their best start in program history, setting a school record for wins (15) in the process.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Elaine Franta, Junior, White Bear Lake, Minn. (White Bear Lake)
UW-Oshkosh, Michelle Spicer, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
UW-River Falls, Emma Heinert, Freshman, Winona, Minn. (Winona)
UW-Stout, Ellie Becker, Freshman, St. James, Minn. (St. James)
 
Doubles
Barbara Covek, Junior (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) & Jenna Koepp, Junior (Watertown, Wis./Watertown), of UW-Stevens Point
Covek & Koepp defeated Jenna Nolde & Michelle Spicer from UW-Oshkosh 8 – 3 on Sept. 29, in their lone match of the week. With the win, they improved to 2–0 in WIAC play, and now own a 13–2 overall record on the season. It has been a historic year for Covek & Koepp, who also earned the program’s first doubles victory in program history at the ITA regional late last month.

Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Clare Palen, Sophomore, Rochester, Minn. (Lourdes) & Samantha Fuchs, Freshman, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
UW-Oshkosh, Jenna Nolde, Freshman, Menominee, Mich. (Menominee) & Michelle Spicer, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
UW-River Falls, Alexis Budzinski, Freshman, Eau Claire, Wis. (Memorial) & Abbie Reed, Senior, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chi-Hi)
 


Week of Sept. 20 - 26
Singles

Autumn Bruno, Freshman (Milwaukee, Wis./Greenfield Whitnall), of UW-Whitewater
Bruno posted a 4-1 record during the week, including a victory over the No. 1 seed, and finished as a semifinalist at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional at the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex. The No. 7 seed in the draw, Bruno started the tournament on Sept. 24 with a victory against Rachel Lindrud of Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.), then posted a 6-3, 6-1 triumph against Sofia Sackett of Luther College (Iowa) to start the day on Sept. 25. In the Round of 16, she topped UW-La Crosse’s Natasha Bailey, the No. 13 seed, by a 6-2, 6-1 score. On Sept. 26, she upset top-seeded Grace Riermann of Bethel University (Minn.) by a 6-4, 6-3 score, before falling in the semifinals against No. 6 Sabrina Tang of Grinnell College (Iowa).
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Katie Kearney, Junior, Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield)
UW-Oshkosh, Michelle Spicer, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
UW-Stevens Point, Jenna Koepp, Junior, Watertown, Wis. (Watertown)

Doubles
Autumn Bruno, Freshman (Milwaukee, Wis./Greenfield Whitnall) & Cassie Lee, Freshman (Downers Grove, Ill./Timothy Christian), of UW-Whitewater
Bruno and Lee won the doubles draw and clinched All-America honors at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional at the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Complex. The duo, seeded ninth, finished the tournament with a 5-0 record, including three wins against seeded opponents, and punched its ticket to the ITA Cup on Oct. 14-17. Bruno and Lee defeated Grinnell College (Iowa) 8-1 and UW-Eau Claire 8-2 to set up a quarterfinal showdown against No. 7 Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.). Following an 8-3 triumph in the quarters, the pair upset top-seeded Bethel University (Minn.) by an 8-4 score in the semifinals before topping No. 5 UW-Eau Claire 6-3, 6-3 in the final match.

Also nominated:
UW-Oshkosh, Jenna Nolde, Freshman, Menominee, Mich. & Michelle Spicer, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
 


Week of Sept. 13 - 19
Singles

Kimberly Steinert, Senior (Oshkosh, Wis./West), of UW-La Crosse
Steinert went 2-0 at No. 1 singles during the week to improve to 7-0 on the season. She earned a 6-1, 6-4 win over Autumn Bruno of UW-Whitewater on Sept. 18, and followed with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Kailey Courteau of UW-River Falls on Sept. 19.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Samantha Fuchs, Freshman, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
UW-Stevens Point, Kaylee Woelfel, Senior, Plymouth, Wis. (Plymouth)
UW-Stout, Lauren Couves, Junior, Ames, Iowa (Ames)
UW-Whitewater, Gianna Nikoleit, Freshman, Elmhurst, Ill. (York Community)
 
Doubles
Lindsey Henderson, Senior (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) & Elaine Franta, Junior (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake), of UW-Eau Claire
Henderson and Franta earned their first dual win of the season at No. 1 doubles with an 8-5 triumph over UW-Whitewater’s Autumn Bruno and Cassie Lee.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Kimberly Steinert, Senior, Oshkosh, Wis. (West) & Kellie Hierl, Junior, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
UW-Stevens Point, Barbara Covek, Junior, Barrington, Ill. (Barrington) & Jenna Koepp, Junior, Watertown, Wis. (Watertown)
UW-Whitewater, Molly Rueth, Senior, Wheaton, Ill. (Glenbard West) & Courtney Day, Junior, Oshkosh, Wis. (North)
 


Week of Sept. 6 - 12
Singles

Jenna Koepp, Junior (Watertown, Wis./Watertown) of UW-Stevens Point
Koepp improved to 7-0 on the season, posting a 4-0 record during the week playing in both the No. 3 and No. 1 singles position. Koepp posted a 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over Edgewood College (Wis.) on Sept. 8, and followed that up with wins over Lawrence University (Wis.) 4-6, 6-2, (10-5) and Ripon College (Wis.) 6-0, 6-0 on Sept. 11, playing in the No. 3 singles position. For her final match in the Sept. 11 triple header, she played in the No. 1 singles position and posted a 6-0, 6-0 win over UW-Superior’s Maya Callaway - the 2021 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Her efforts have been integral in helping the Pointers to an 8-0 record to start the season, a mark that hasn’t been matched in the history of the program.
 
Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Kellie Hierl, Junior, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
UW-Oshkosh, Michelle Spicer, Senior, Milwaukee, Wis. (Lutheran)
UW-Stout, Annie Sandry, Senior, Clara City, Minn. (Maccray)
UW-Whitewater, Gianna Nikoleit, Freshman, Elmhurst, Ill. (York Community)
 
Doubles
Faith Leithold, Sophomore (Onalaska, Wis./Onalaska) & Kaitlyn Hess, Senior (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln), of UW-Stevens Point
Leithold & Hess posted a 4-0 record during the week playing in the No. 2 doubles position. The duo came from behind to beat Edgewood College (Wis.) 8-5 on Sept. 8, and were perfect in a triple header on Sept. 11, posting wins over Lawrence University (Wis.) (8-3), Ripon College (Wis.) (8-2), and UW-Superior (8-0). The pair dropped only 10 games in four matches, and helped the Pointers post a perfect 4-0 record on the week.

Also nominated:
UW-La Crosse, Morgan Graf, Junior, Sullivan, Wis. (Sullivan) & Hannah Riegle, Junior, Chatham, Ill. (Chatham)
UW-Oshkosh, Angie Carini, Senior, Brookfield, Wis. (Catholic Memorial) & Hannah Stitt, Sophomore, Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville)
UW-Stout, Mariah Kent, Senior, Eau Claire, Wis. (North) & Anna Kent, Freshman, Eau Claire, Wis. (North)
UW-Whitewater, Molly Rueth, Senior, Wheaton, Ill. (Glenbard West) & Courtney Day, Junior, Oshkosh, Wis. (North)

 

Week of Aug. 30 - Sept. 5
Singles
Kimberly Steinert, Senior (Oshkosh, Wis./West), of UW-La Crosse
Steinert opened the year with four straight wins. She earned a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Margot Connor of Lawrence University (Wis.) on Sept. 1 to start the year. Steinert then captured the No. 1 singles draw at the UW-Whitewater Warhawk Invite on Sept. 4 with a 3-0 record. She defeated Amber Shuang of Illinois Wesleyan University in the first round (6-1, 6-0) and Lily Schoeck of Augustana College (Ill.) in the semifinals (6-1, 6-0). Steinert took the title over Sabrina Tang of Grinnell College (Iowa) by scores of 7-5, 7-6.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Samantha Fuchs, Freshman, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
UW-Oshkosh, Hannah Stitt, Sophomore, Baldwin, Wis. (Baldwin-Woodville)
UW-Stevens Point, Faith Leithold, Sophomore, Onalaska, Wis. (Onalaska)
UW-Stout, Lauren Couves, Junior, Ames, Iowa (Ames)
UW-Whitewater, Cassie Lee, Freshman, Downers Grove, Ill. (Timothy Christian)
 
Doubles
Olivia Kraft, Senior (Bloomington, Ill./Normal Community) & Kellie Ha, Sophomore (Palatine, Ill./Fremd), of UW-Whitewater
Kraft and Ha paired together for four wins during the week to help UW-Whitewater to four dual wins and the Warhawk Invitational team title. The duo recorded an 8-7 (5) triumph at No. 1 doubles in the Warhawks’ 9-0 win against Illinois Tech. Kraft and Ha took the No. 1 doubles title at the Warhawk Invitational, besting Illinois Wesleyan University, Grinnell College (Iowa) and UW-Eau Claire in eight-game pro sets.
 
Also nominated:
UW-Eau Claire, Clare Palen, Sophomore, Rochester, Minn. (Lourdes) & Lindsey Henderson, Senior, Prior Lake, Minn.
UW-Oshkosh, Jenna Nolde, Freshman, Menominee, Mich. & Alyssa Pattee, Freshman, Waupun, Wis. (Waupun)
UW-Stevens Point, Barbara Covek, Juinor, Barrington, Ill. (Barrington) & Lauren Couves, Junior, Ames, Iowa (Ames)
UW-Stout, Mariah Kent, Senior, Eau Claire, Wis. (North) & Lauren Couves, Junior, Ames, Iowa (Ames)