CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Northwestern faced tough competition on the opening day of the Virginia Fall Invite on the campus of the University of Virginia. Friday's action saw eight Wildcats compete in singles play.
Junior Alicia Barnett defeated Makenzie Craft of Arkansas in the first round of the Orange Flight, 6-0, 5-7, 6-3, and freshman Alex Chatt handled Alexandra Stanova of Maryland in the same bracket, 6-3, 6-2.
Brooke Rischbieth opened her day on Friday by challenging the No. 5 ranked player in the country in Julia Elbaba from host Virginia. Elbaba came away with the 6-3, 6-2 victory.
In the Blue Flight, Erin Larner made quick work of her opponent from Old Dominion, Faith Atiso, 6-0, 6-1.
In doubles play, Barnett and Manon Peri took an 8-4 decision over Stanova and Kristina Hovsepyan from Maryland. The duo then fell 8-5 to Stephanie Nauta and Maci Epstein of Virginia in the semifinals. Barnett and Peri will play in the third-place match tomorrow. Lok Sze Leung and Rheeya Doshi will also compete in a third place match tomorrow after winning their first round match over Old Dominion's Atiso and Ivana Yukovic before falling in the semifinals.
Action will resume tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
Friday Results
Julia Elbaba (UVA) def. Brooke Rischbieth (NU), 6-3, 6-2
Maci Epstein (UVA) def. Manon Peri (NU), 6-1, 6-3
Alicia Barnett (NU) def. Makenzie Craft (Ark), 6-0, 5-7, 6-3
Alex Chatt (NU) def. Alexandra Stanova (MD), 6-3, 6-2
Erin Larner (NU) def. Faith Atiso (ODU), 6-0, 6-1
Kristina Hovsepyan (MD) def. Rheeya Doshi (NU), 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
Nastassia Rubel (Ark) def. Jillian Rooney (NU), 6-3, 6-0
Blevins / Folland (USC) def. Rischbieth / Larner (NU), 8-5
Rischbieth / Larner (NU) def. Craft / Rubel (Ark), 8-5
Barnett / Peri (NU) def. Stanova / Hovsepyan (MD), 8-4
Nauta / Epstein (UVA) def. Barnett / Peri (NU), 8-5
Leung / Doshi (NU) def. Yukovic / Atiso (ODU), 8-1
Foure / Mercer (UVA) def. Leung / Doshi (NU), 8-4
Dailey / Looney (USC) def. Rooney / Chatt (NU), 8-5
Rooney / Chatt (NU) def. Hudson / Jurasic (Ark), 8-4
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