LOS ANGELES -- No. 26 Northwestern had little trouble with No. 40 Saint Mary's (Calif.) in the opening round of the 2015 NCAA Women's Tennis Tournament as the Wildcats cruised to a 4-0 win at Los Angeles Tennis Center.
With the victory, NU advances to take on host and seventh-seeded UCLA in Sunday's round of 32. The winner of Sunday's match moves on to Waco, Texas, for the remaining rounds of the tournament.
In doubles action, Northwestern's No. 1 pairing of Alicia Barnett and Erin Larner wasted little time in pulling off an 8-1 victory. The Wildcats' 48th-ranked duo cruised past the 58th-ranked team of Parminder Kaur and Jana McDord.
The Gaels bounced back to earn an 8-6 win at No. 3, leaving the doubles point to be decided by the match at No. 2. Rheeya Doshi and Brooke Rischbieth were able to withstand a late charge by Danielle Flores and Mary-Anne Jessep to earn a 8-6 win and give the 'Cats the doubles point.
Northwestern continued its dominance during singles play. The Wildcats won the first set in five of the six matches.
Barnett was the first Wildcat to complete her match as she disposed of Flores 6-3, 6-1 at No. 1. Larner followed soon after with a win of her own at the No. 2 spot, taking down Jana McCord 6-2, 6-1 and pulling NU within one point of the victory.
Alex Chatt had the honor of clinching the match for the Wildcats, earning Northwestern's third straight-sets victory with a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Catherine Leduc.
UCLA advanced to Sunday's second round with a 4-0 win over Idaho. The Wildcats and Bruins are set to square off at 2 p.m. Central time.
Singles
No. 1 -- Alicia Barnett (NU) def. Danielle Flores (SMC), 6-3, 6-1
No. 2 -- Erin Larner (NU) Jana McDord (SMC), 6-2, 6-1
No. 3 -- Lok Sze Leung (NU) vs. Jamie Pawid (SMC), 4-6, 0-5 (unfinished)
No. 4 -- Alex Chatt (NU) def. Catherine Leduc (SMC), 6-1, 6-3
No. 5 -- Rheeya Doshi (NU) vs. Kareena Manji (SMC), 6-1, 4-5 (unfinished)
No. 6 - Brooke Rischbieth (NU) vs. Parminder Kaur (SMC), 6-1, 2-3 (unfinished)
Doubles
No. 1 -- #48 Alicia Barnett / Erin Larner (NU) def. #58 Parminder Kaur / Jana McDord (SMC), 8-1
No. 2 -- Rheeya Doshi / Brooke Rischbieth (NU) def. Danielle Flores / Mary-Anne Jessup (SMC), 8-6
No. 3 - Kareena Manji / Jamie Pawid (SMC) def. Alex Chatt / Lok Sze Leung (NU), 8-6
Order of Completion: Doubles: 1, 3, 2*; Singles: 1, 2, 4*
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