Beginning today, three senior Badger women’s tennis players will get the opportunity to wrap up their NCAA careers at home in front of the eyes of family and friends. The Badgers have the opportunity to host the Big Ten Championship tournament that starts today and continues every day until the final round Sunday.

“It means everything to me (that the tournament is in Madison),” senior co-captain Liz Carpenter said. “My whole family is flying out here to see me. It means that everyone gets to come out here and see me play in my last match.”

Carpenter, co-captain Erin Jobe and Elizabeth Dolan are the three seniors who will be hanging it up after the Big Ten Championships.

“You couldn’t ask for a better possible scenario,” Wisconsin women’s tennis coach Brian Fleishman said. “I mean, you’re playing your last collegiate match, you’re on home courts, I think it’s going work out in their favor. They have a lot of pride and they realize that this is it, so I think they’re going leave it on the court.”

Carpenter, Jobe, and Dolan have all left huge marks on the Wisconsin women’s tennis program, which extend beyond the courts at Nielsen. All three were 2008 academic all-Big Ten members. Jobe was named a 2008 Wisconsin Athletic Board Scholar. Overall, though, their impact on the younger players on the team was indispensable.

“All three of them have done a great job being role models, letting the younger players see how they conduct themselves,” Fleishman said. “I think they all have had a positive impact on those younger players.”

Between the lines, the three Badger seniors have also been impressive. Dolan, who transferred to Wisconsin from the University of Illinois, played to a 3-2 singles record in her first full season playing with the Badgers. Dolan helped to round out Wisconsin’s singles rotation this past fall and spring. Jobe, who actually played some tennis in Bangkok in high school, was an Arthur Ashe Award recipient for 2008. Carpenter was the team’s No. 1 singles player, earning Wisconsin’s 2008 Team MVP award and was ranked as high as 25th in the Midwest region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association at the beginning of this spring season.

“[Dolan and Jobe] are both good friends of mine,” Carpenter said. “Erin Jobe was a captain of the team with me this year and we worked really great together. Elizabeth Dolan, despite having some injuries she had earlier, has worked really hard and is a great example for the younger ones on the team.”

“Any time you lose three seniors all at once, it’s a huge loss,” Fleishman said. “I think (Carpenter) has come into her own her senior year. She’s played some great tennis and she’ll continue to play some great tennis on Thursday. The other two have done a great job in a supporting role on the team, accepting their positions as leaders.”

It will be hard to replace firepower like that, but there is faith in the younger Badger women.

“Everyone has a lot of heart,” Carpenter said. “We had a tough beginning (to the spring season), but we were all able to work through it. (The underclassmen) are ready to go, they’re ready to be a great team here in Madison.”

Unfortunately, in the last match of the regular season, the Badgers were unable to hold off Ohio State for senior day. Ohio State, then ranked 39th in the country, was able to knock Wisconsin off the Top 75 ITA ranking. The Badgers played a close match, losing 3-4. However, by no means will Wisconsin hang their heads.

“I think that match will affect us in a very positive way,” Fleishman said. “We did a great thing against a very, very, very good team. I think the girls realize now how close we are to being a good team.”

Despite that encouragement, Wisconsin cannot look past their first round opponents in the tournament. The Badgers have a very good record against Iowa in the past few years but cannot get complacent.

“We never underestimate anybody,” Fleishman said. “No matter what their record is; no matter what their ranking is. We go out there looking for a challenge and just battle on the court.”

Carpenter, who will be staying a fifth year at Wisconsin to finish her studies and serve as an assistant coach to the tennis team, is trying to keep things in perspective as she heads into her final matches here.

“I’m just taking in the moment,” Carpenter said. “I’m making sure that I’m having fun and competing to the best of my ability, knowing that I have nothing to lose now.”

“I love Madison. I really enjoyed being able to be a part of a top university.”