Northwestern
Illinois
Wildcats Charge Back to Beat Illinois
4/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Never count out Northwestern.
Facing a 3-1 deficit Friday, a team that has won 16 straight conference championships was not ready for the streak to end in the Big Ten quarterfinals. Rival Illinois had the `Cats on the ropes, but Northwestern battled back to win the final three matches and advance to Saturday's semifinal round.
"There were so many shifts and waves in the match," head coach Claire Pollard said. "All credit to Illinois for being up 3-1, but we just battled."
Lok Sze Leung put the finishing touches on an incredible comeback in the final match of a six-hour marathon. The lone Wildcat senior came through in the clutch, beating Louise Kwong at No. 3, 6-3, 6-3 much to the delight of her teammates and the large crowd that supported the Wildcats throughout.
The match began outside, where Illinois claimed the doubles point, but rain forced action inside to the Combe Tennis Center. The Wildcats started out hot after the change of scenery, and Alex Chatt blew past Jerricka Boone at No. 4 in straight sets to put Northwestern on the board and tie the team score at one.
The Illini won a pair of tough matches at spots five and six in three sets, and Illinois looked like it had all the momentum. Those would be the last matches Illinois would win.
The Wildcats top three singles players shrugged off the pressure and earned back-to-back-to-back straight set wins to push Northwestern through to the next round.
Alicia Barnett got things started with a 6-4, 7-5 win at No. 1, and Erin Larner followed with a 6-4, 6-3 victory at No. 2 to tie things up. That set the stage for Leung's performance to keep the Wildcats on their march toward a 17th straight Big Ten title.
Northwestern faces a strong test Saturday with the Ohio State Buckeyes. The match is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. inside the Combe Tennis Center. Ohio State beat the 'Cats earlier this season, but Northwestern continues to be a force in postseason play.
"We like this tournament," Pollard said.
Results
Singles
No. 1 -- Alicia Barnett (NU) def. Alexis Casati (ILL), 6-4, 7-5
No. 2 -- Erin Larner (NU) def. Melissa Kopinski (ILL), 6-4, 6-3
No. 3 -- Lok Sze Leung (NU) def. Louise Kwong (ILL), 6-3, 6-3
No. 4 -- Alex Chatt (NU) def. Jerricka Boone (ILL), 6-2, 6-2
No. 5 -- Madie Baillon (ILL) def. Rheeya Doshi (NU), 3-6, 7-5, 6-1
No. 6 -- Jade Hilton (ILL) def. Jillian Rooney (NU), 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
Order of Finish: 4, 6, 5, 1, 2, 3*
Doubles
No. 1 -- Kopinski/Kwong (ILL) def. #39 Barnett/Larner (NU), 8-7 (2)
No. 2 -- Boone/Casati (ILL) def. Doshi/Rischbieth (NU), 8-5
No. 3 -- Leung/Chatt (NU) def. Tapak/Baillon (ILL), 8-6
Order of Finish: 3, 1, 2*
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