WHITEWATER, Wis.- UW-Oshkosh women's tennis headed south to open its season at UW-Whitewater on Friday (August 29).
 
In their first conference dual of the year, the Titans dropped a 7-0 decision to the 17-time defending WIAC champion Warhawks.
 
Starting off doubles play, Mana Usui (Franklin/Franklin) and Kayla Gibbs (Muskego/Muskego) fell 6-3 to Gracie Ha and Abigail Weaver in the top flight. Jameson Gregory (Delavan/Big Foot) returned to the court for the first time since the 2023-24 season at No. 2 doubles, pairing with Brianna Owens (Appleton/Kimberly). The duo was defeated by Molly Asfeld and Crystina Lee, 6-2. Rounding out doubles action, Olivia Pethan (Oshkosh/Fox Valley Lutheran) and newcomer Sarah Schaeffer (Rock Springs/Reedsburg) tallied four set points on Kaitlyn Remke and Josie Wojcikiewics before falling, 6-4.
 
Pethan managed a point against Ha at No. 1 singles and Usui tallied three at No. 2 against Weaver before Gibbs fell to Asfeld, 6-2, 6-0, at the third flight. Owens went 6-3, 6-1 against Lee in the fourth flight and Schaeffer was beaten, 6-0, 6-1, by Remke in her first collegiate singles match.
 
Cate Gerl (Joliet, Ill./Lincoln-Way West) had the best individual performance of the day for UW-Oshkosh. She won the first set of the No. 6 singles match over Abigail McIsaac by a score of 6-3 before falling 3-6 in the second to force the tiebreaker. McIsaac outscored Gerl 10-5 in the deciding set.
 
The Titans will return to the Warhawk Outdoor Tennis Courts on Saturday (August 30) for the annual Warhawk Invitational. The first matches are set to begin at 9 a.m.