Friday, March 1
Evanston, Ill.
5 p.m.
Northwestern
5
vs
2
#26 Illinois
'Cats Take Down Illini in Big Ten Opener, 5-2
3/1/2019 9:03:00 PM | Women's Tennis
EVANSTON, Ill. — For the 19th consecutive time Northwestern women's tennis topped Illinois in a dual match.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats posted a 5-2 victory over No. 26 Illinois at Combe Tennis Center on Friday night. Northwestern improved to 7-5 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play, while the Illini fall to 5-6 on the campaign and 0-1 in league action.
Northwestern got things going by taking the doubles point. Clarissa Hand Lee Or made quick work of Emilee Duong and Jaclyn Switkes at the No. 1 position, 6-3. Julie Byrne and Hannah McColgan claimed their fifth consecutive double victory by topping 60th-ranked Sasha Belaya and Dani Pedraza Novak, 6-4.
Byrne carried the momentum over to singles play and topped Switkes, 6-0, 6-1, to put Northwestern ahead 2-0. Illinois pulled within a point thanks to Mia Rabinowitz's, 6-2, 6-4, victory over Lee Or at the No. 3 position.
Caroline Pozo improved to 8-4 in dual action with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 4, while Rheeya Doshi earned the clincher with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 decision at No. 5 singles.
Illinois took a win at the top spot, but that was all the Illini would get on Friday night as Carol Finke rallied, 2-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-4, for a three-set victory over Dani Pedraza Novak at No. 6 singles.
Northwestern returns to action next weekend with a pair of road contests. The Wildcats will take on Indiana on March 9, before heading to battle Purdue on March 10.
Singles Competition
1. Asuka Kawai (ILL) def. #30 Clarissa Hand (NU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. #109 Julie Byrne (NU) def. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-0, 6-1
3. Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) def. Lee Or (NU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Caroline Pozo (NU) def. Sasha Belaya (ILL) 6-3, 6-4
5. Rheeya Doshi (NU) def. Emilee Duong (ILL) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
6. Carol Finke (NU) def. Dani Pedraza Novak (ILL) 2-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. #20 Lee Or/Clarissa Hand (NU) def. Emilee Duong/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-3
2. #27 Hannah McColgan/Julie Byrne (NU) def. #60 Sasha Belaya/Dani Pedraza Novak (ILL) 6-4
3. Asuka Kawai/Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) def. Caroline Pozo/Rheeya Doshi (NU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Illinois 5-5; National ranking #26
Northwestern 6-6; National ranking #13
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,4,5,1,6)
The 13th-ranked Wildcats posted a 5-2 victory over No. 26 Illinois at Combe Tennis Center on Friday night. Northwestern improved to 7-5 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play, while the Illini fall to 5-6 on the campaign and 0-1 in league action.
Northwestern got things going by taking the doubles point. Clarissa Hand Lee Or made quick work of Emilee Duong and Jaclyn Switkes at the No. 1 position, 6-3. Julie Byrne and Hannah McColgan claimed their fifth consecutive double victory by topping 60th-ranked Sasha Belaya and Dani Pedraza Novak, 6-4.
Byrne carried the momentum over to singles play and topped Switkes, 6-0, 6-1, to put Northwestern ahead 2-0. Illinois pulled within a point thanks to Mia Rabinowitz's, 6-2, 6-4, victory over Lee Or at the No. 3 position.
Caroline Pozo improved to 8-4 in dual action with a 6-3, 6-4 win at No. 4, while Rheeya Doshi earned the clincher with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 decision at No. 5 singles.
Illinois took a win at the top spot, but that was all the Illini would get on Friday night as Carol Finke rallied, 2-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-4, for a three-set victory over Dani Pedraza Novak at No. 6 singles.
Northwestern returns to action next weekend with a pair of road contests. The Wildcats will take on Indiana on March 9, before heading to battle Purdue on March 10.
Singles Competition
1. Asuka Kawai (ILL) def. #30 Clarissa Hand (NU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. #109 Julie Byrne (NU) def. Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-0, 6-1
3. Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) def. Lee Or (NU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Caroline Pozo (NU) def. Sasha Belaya (ILL) 6-3, 6-4
5. Rheeya Doshi (NU) def. Emilee Duong (ILL) 7-6 (7-4), 6-3
6. Carol Finke (NU) def. Dani Pedraza Novak (ILL) 2-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-4
Doubles Competition
1. #20 Lee Or/Clarissa Hand (NU) def. Emilee Duong/Jaclyn Switkes (ILL) 6-3
2. #27 Hannah McColgan/Julie Byrne (NU) def. #60 Sasha Belaya/Dani Pedraza Novak (ILL) 6-4
3. Asuka Kawai/Mia Rabinowitz (ILL) def. Caroline Pozo/Rheeya Doshi (NU) 6-2
Match Notes:
Illinois 5-5; National ranking #26
Northwestern 6-6; National ranking #13
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3,2); Singles (2,3,4,5,1,6)
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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