April 1, 2001
EVANSTON, Ill. - The No. 11 Northwestern women's tennis team improved to 14-4 with an easy 6-1 win over No. 15 Baylor (15-4) on Sunday afternoon at the Christie Tennis Center. The Wildcats snapped a two-match losing streak with the win.
"Last week I think we were a little unlucky," said senior Colleen Cheng. "Today we didn't worry about the two losses, we just did our thing and took care of business."
For the first time in three tries, the Wildcats won the doubles point to take the early advantage. Senior Cheng and sophomore Marine Piriou combined for the first time and earned a convincing 8-1 win at No. 1. The Wildcats' other win came at No. 3, as freshman Ruth Barnes and junior Simona Petrutiu defeated Paola Stephen and Vida Mulec, 8-5.
"I thought we played unbelievably well at No. 1, and that got the momentum started," said Head Coach Claire Pollard. "Even though it's one point it does set the tone for the rest of the match, especially against a good team like Baylor."
With momentum on their side, the Wildcats won five of the six singles to seal the match. No. 42 Cheng upset 35th-ranked Katja Kovac, 6-1, 7-5, at No. 1. Lia Jackson, ranked 61st, came from behind to upset No. 29 Jahnavi Parekh, 2-6, 6-4, 1-0(8). After having her 14-match win streak snapped, Piriou stunned No. 67 Vida Mulec, at No. 3, 6-3, 6-2. Petrutiu and Jessica Rush each won in straight sets at Nos. 4 and 5.
The Wildcats are back on the road next weekend when they travel to Iowa for a Big Ten matchup on Sunday, April 8 at 11 a.m.
NORTHWESTERN WOMEN'S TENNIS vs. Baylor
April 1, 2001
Vandy Christie Tennis Center
Evanston, Ill.
#11 NORTHWESTERN 6, #15 BAYLOR 1
SINGLES
No. 1 - #42 Colleen Cheng (NU) def. #35 Katja Kovac (BU), 6-1, 7-5
No. 2 - #61 Lia Jackson (NU) def. #29 Jahnavi Parekh (BU), 2-6, 6-4, 1-0(8)
No. 3 - Marine Piriou (NU) def. #67 Vida Mulec (BU), 6-3, 6-2
No. 4 - Simona Petrutiu (NU) def. Kanin Andersson (NU), 6-3, 6-4
No. 5 - Jessica Rush (NU) def. Paola Stephen (BU), 6-0, 6-0
No. 6 - Frida Borjesson (BU) def. Ruth Barnes (NU), 3-6, 7-6, 1-0(8)
DOUBLES
No. 1 - Cheng/Piriou (NU) def. Kovac/Parekh (BU), 8-1
No. 2 - Andersson/Borjesson (BU) def. Jackson/Rush (NU), 8-2
No. 3 - Barnes/Petrutiu (NU) def. Stephen/Mulec (BU), 8-5