In the beginning of the fall season, the University of Wisconsin men’s tennis squad was receiving the majority of the hype. Sophomore Alaina Trgovich is doing her best to make sure the women’s side gets its deserved recognition as well.
Two weeks ago at the Milwaukee Classic, she went undefeated in both singles and doubles, coming away from the tournament as the runner-up due to the point system, but her dominance was apparent in the Badgers’ first tournament.
“It was a good start to the season, and it really got me pumped for the rest of the season,” Trgovich said.
Trgovich, a transfer student from University of Kentucky, has joined Wisconsin during a season where the team has set itself lofty goals, such as a top 40 team NCAA ranking. Regardless, her decision to come to the school was not based solely on tennis.
The pharmacy major’s desire to play for Wisconsin, along with an open scholarship due to an injury, made the dream a reality.
“I couldn’t see myself there [Kentucky] for three more years,” Trgovich said. “The academics here were also a big factor. It was a very smooth transition, the coaches and team are great. … I grew up in the Midwest, and it is really nice to be back here; I like it here.”
But Trgovich’s goals don’t only lie in the classroom. She also has a set of goals that she wants to achieve before her career at UW is finished — such as climbing the individual NCAA rankings.
“I would like to be ranked, and earn an individual NCAA tournament bid,” Trgovich said.
Despite a conspicuous lack of preseason recognition in the form of a national ranking, it is likely that status will change, especially if she continues delivering performances like the one in Milwaukee.
Trgovich is not the first successful collegiate athlete in her family. Her father, Pete, played basketball under Hall of Fame coach John Wooden at UCLA from 1973-75 and was a part of two national title teams.
“He has been such a positive influence and great role model,” Trgovich said. “His experiences have been very helpful for me.”
Trgovich’s next competition will be in two weeks at Northwestern in Evanston, Ill. After playing with two different partners in Milwaukee, she will be coupled with sophomore Jessica Seyferth in doubles, with whom she played as a prep athlete when the pair was the No. 1 ranked team in the Midwest.
They are hoping they can pick up where they left off in high school and make some noise as a doubles team this coming season.
Wisconsin has aspirations to be at the top of the Big Ten tables at season’s end. Trgovich, among other newcomers, is a focal point of the buzz around this team, and she hopes to help the Badgers accomplish their team goals as well as her own.
