April 1, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- For the better part of the last decade, Northwestern (13-3, 4-0) has been all but untouchable against Big Ten opponents, winning its last 81 dual matches versus conference foes dating to April, 2004. On Saturday, the No. 4-ranked 'Cats put that streak on the line when they welcome upstart No. 8 Michigan (13-3, 3-0) to Evanston. Saturday's match against Michigan has been moved indoors to the Combe Tennis Center due to rain in the Evanston area.
On Sunday, Northwestern continues its Big Ten schedule when it hosts Michigan State in a match also slated to begin at 11 a.m. Weather permitting, that match will be held at the Vandy Christie Outdoor Tennis Center. Visit NUsports.com on Sunday morning to verify site location.
Live scoring for both matches is available by clicking here.
Promotions Aplenty
All home Northwestern women's tennis matches offer free admission and feature free food for fans plus free raffle drawings for great Fan of the Match prizes. Saturday's match against Michigan is also the setting for Northwestern's Purple Haze event, where fans will have the opportunity to take home outstanding prizes including tickets to a Chicago Cubs game and free domestic airfares.
During Sunday's dual against Michigan State, AthletiCo will be offering free chair massages for all interested fans.
Setting the Scene
Northwestern is aiming to snap a brief two-match losing streak which came during its spring break road trip to No. 1 North Carolina and defending NCAA champion Duke. It marked the first time in more than four full calendar years that NU dropped back-to-back matches, which also came to the Tar Heels and Blue Devils back in 2006. The Wildcats won the doubles point in each match but were overcome in singles en route to 5-2 losses.
Big Ten Conquerors
Through its first four Big Ten dual matches of the season, Northwestern has compiled a 20-4 record in singles and a 10-2 mark in doubles play. Maria Mosolova, Lauren Lui and Stacey Lee all sport unbeaten 4-0 singles records in the Big Ten this season as Mosolova and Lui have improved their career conference won-loss records to 21-0 and 33-1, respectively.
Mosolova Named Big Ten Player of the Week
Despite the team setbacks, one Wildcat individual put together a stellar week of play in both singles and doubles to earn Big Ten Player of the Week honors. Junior Maria Mosolova took home her sixth career weekly award after defeating two ranked opponents in singles and two top-25 opponents in doubles, with all four wins coming at the No. 1 position.
Scouting the Wolverines
Michigan, ranked in the top 10 nationally for the first time in program history, arrives in Evanston riding a seven-match winning streak despite having played five straight matches away from its home courts. The Wolverines are paced in singles by junior Denise Muresan (No. 25) at No. 1 while junior Whitney Taney comes into the match on a seven-match winning streak. In doubles, Taney and teammate Rika Tatsuno have earned a No. 36 ranking with their 14-2 dual record. Likely No. 1 opponents Muresan and Mosolova have met one previous time this season with Mosolova winning 6-1, 6-2 at the Midwest Regional Championships last fall.
Northwestern and Michigan have squared off in the championship match of the Big Ten Tournament each of the last five seasons with NU winning on all five occasions. The last Wolverine victory over the Wildcats came in 1997, the same year Michigan won the Big Ten Championship.
Scouting the Spartans
Michigan State begins the weekend still in search of its first Big Ten victory this season (0-3) and will try to earn that win Saturday when it travels to Wisconsin before arriving in Evanston. The Spartans' two most consistent performers this season have been junior Whitney Wilson and sophomore Elena Ivanova. Wilson is 14-13 overall and 9-5 in dual matches playing primarily at the No. 3 and 4 spots while Ivanova is 16-11 overall with an 8-8 mark in duals. On the doubles side, Wilson has teamed with Amy Barton to go 11-5 in dual matches, including a perfect 8-0 at the No. 2 position.
Michigan State is under the direction of Simone Jardim, a 2004 graduate of Fresno State now in her second season at the helm in East Lansing.