Oct. 26, 2011

NEW YORK CITY -- Northwestern's top doubles pair, Linda Abu Mushrefova and Nida Hamilton, has been chosen to fill out the field at the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships in New York City, Nov. 3-6 at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City.

Abu Mushrefova (Bradenton, Fla./Pendleton) and Hamilton (Oak Brook, Ill./Hinsdale Central) have been selected to participate based on a number of factors including their strong fall campaign thus and their current national ranking. The duo reached the finals of the USTA/ITA Midwest Regional Championship earlier this week before falling to Notre Dame's Kristy Frilling and Shannon Mathews. The Wildcats also advanced to the semifinals of the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships earlier in the month where they were bested by Florida's Sofie Oyen and Allie Will.

Abu Mushrefova and Hamilton are ranked No. 3 in the Campbell's ITA preseason rankings. They will be one of 20 teams to participate in the draw. Play begins on Thursday, Nov. 3.

While Abu Mushrefova and Hamilton are in New York City, many of the Wildcats, including ITA Midwest Regional Championship singles runner-up Brittany Wowchuk (Toronto, Ontario/Oakville Trafalgar), are slated to head west to Arizona State University for the Thunderbird Classic in Tempe, Ariz. That tournament runs concurrently, Nov. 4-6.

One other schedule change to note, with the addition of the USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships Northwestern will no longer be participating in the Lakewood Ranch Invitational scheduled for Nov. 11-13.

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