March 27, 2011
Site: Evanston, Ill.
Score: No. 11 Northwestern 7, Wisconsin 0
Records: NU (9-5, 2-0 Big Ten) Wisconsin (10-5, 1-1 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Friday, April 1 at Ohio State Columbus, Ohio 2:30 p.m. CT
EVANSTON, Ill. -- On the day before the start of its spring academic quarter, Northwestern passed its second Big Ten Conference test of the season with flying colors in blanking Wisconsin, 7-0, Sunday at the Combe Tennis Center in Evanston. NU did not need a third set in any of its six singles matches, surrendering more than two games in a set only twice.
"It felt good to be back on our home courts today and I thought we played some very good tennis at times," said head coach Claire Pollard, who is now just three wins shy of 300 for her tenure at Northwestern. "We're still moving some things around in our lineup to see where everyone fits best for the end of the year but for right now everyone is doing their part to contribute."
The win marked the fifth straight time the Wildcats have swept the Badgers in regular-season dual action.
Wisconsin was able to start off strong in doubles with early leads before Northwestern began to assert its dominance. NU's newly anointed sixth-ranked doubles team of Linda Abu Mushrefova and Nida Hamilton improved to 10-3 on the No. 1 line with an 8-5 win over Jenny Hois and Nicky Stracar, while the Wildcats' Maria Mosolova and Elena Chernyakova picked up an 8-4 victory against Hannah Berner and Jessica Seyferth.
The doubles sweep was completed when Belinda Niu and Kate Turvy finished off an 8-6 win over Alaina Trgovich and Aleksandra Markovic.
It was all Northwestern in singles play, beginning at No. 2 where Niu improved to 2-1 in her young career at that spot in the lineup by trouncing Trgovich, 6-1, 6-1. It wasn't long after when Abu Mushrefova put down Markovic, 6-1, 6-2, at No. 5.
The clinching point came in when freshman Nida Hamilton finished off her 6-0, 6-1 victory over Lauren Gruber at No. 6.
Mosolova remained undefeated in dual play this year by dispensing of Hoise, 6-1, 6-2, while Turvy and Stacey Lee ensured the sweep by battling to straight-set wins at No. 3 and 4 singles, respectively.
Northwestern has now won 91 of its last 92 dual matches against Big Ten opponents dating to 2004.
Pollard and the Wildcats embark next week on their first Big Ten road trip of the season, traveling to meet Ohio State Friday afternoon and Penn State on Sunday.
No. 11 Northwestern 7, Wisconsin 0
Singles:
1: #13 Maria Mosolova (NU) def. Jenny Hois (WIS), 6-1, 6-2
2: #67 Belinda Niu (NU) def. Alaina Trgovich (WIS), 6-1, 6-1
3: #87 Kate Turvy (NU) def. Hannah Berner (WIS), 6-4, 6-2
4: Stacey Lee (NU) def. Jessica Seyferth (WIS), 6-2, 7-5
5: Linda Abu Mushrefova (NU) def. Aleksandra Markovic (WIS), 6-1, 6-2
6: Nida Hamilton (NU) def. Lauren Gruber (UCSB), 6-0, 6-1
Doubles:
1: #6 Abu Mushrefova/Hamilton (NU) def. Hois/Stracar (WIS), 8-5
2: Mosolova/Chernyakova (NU) def. Berner/Seyferth (WIS), 8-4
3: Niu/Turvy (NU) def. Trgovich/Markovic (WIS), 8-6
Order of Finish:
Singles: (2, 5, 6*, 1, 3, 4)
Doubles: (2, 1*, 3)
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