Feb. 10, 2006
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's eighth-ranked women's tennis team stays in Evanston this weekend to host its first two home dual matches of the season versus No. 53 Alabama and No. 59 Furman. The 'Cats open their home schedule by facing the Crimson Tide and the Paladins on the same day, matching up with Alabama at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, then facing Furman at 6 p.m.
The Wildcats are 3-1 this season after an impressive performance at the USTA-ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championships. The 'Cats dropped their opening-round match to then-No. 18 California, but rallied to top then-No. 12 Kentucky, 5-2, and No. 6 Georgia, 6-0.
In Northwestern's four matches this season, it has faced four opponents ranked top-25. With two more ranked opponents this weekend, Northwestern will have faced ranked teams in each of its first six matches.
Junior All-American Cristelle Grier (Epsom, England/Putney) and freshman Georgia Rose (Mettawa, Ill./North Shore Country Day) have been on a roll as of late, as each posted a 3-0 singles record last weekend, while competing together at No. 1 doubles.
Grier has won six-consecutive matches entering this weekend, while Rose has taken her last eight. The two have combined to post a 2-2 record at No. 1 doubles.
Alabama enters the weekend still looking for its first win of the season after dropping a pair of 4-3 decisions on the road to Denver and Colorado to open the year.
However, the Tide is one of just three teams in the SEC that already has four players with 10 or more singles victories. Senior Robin Stephenson, ranked No. 13, is currently 11-4 and has won seven of her last nine matches.
Ashley Bentley (11-7), Mari Muller (10-7) and Andrea Brenes (10-7) are the other Tide players with at least 10 wins this season.
Furman's women's tennis team evened their record to 2-2 with a 6-1 win over Winthrop Wednesday.
The Paladins are led by Laura Gioia, who has compiled a 1-2 record at No. 1 singles this season. In doubles, the Paladins' 39th-ranked team of Gioia and Marti Morris is 2-1 this season at No. 1 doubles.