Big Ten Tournament Central
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Third-seeded Northwestern looks to continue its stellar history in the Big Ten tournament when it faces sixth-seeded Michigan State in a quarterfinal round match at 2 p.m. Friday in Urbana, Illinois.
In head coach Claire Pollard's first 18 seasons at the helm of the Wildcats, the team has compiled a remarkable 49-3 record in Big Ten tournament action. NU won 13 consecutive league tourney titles from 1998-2011 as well as winning crowns in 2013 and 2014.
The tournament gets underway Thursday on the campus of the University of Illinois, though the Wildcats have an opening-round bye. The semifinal round is set for Saturday with the championship match to be played on Sunday.
Ranked No. 37 by the ITA this week, Northwestern (13-10, 9-2 B1G) will be facing Michigan State (17-7, 7-4) for the second consecutive match after posting a 4-3 victory in Evanston last Sunday. The Spartans won a closely contested doubles point, but the 'Cats bounced back to get singles wins at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Thanks in part to an upset win over No. 24 Brienne Minor of Michigan last Friday, junior Erin Larner went from unranked to No. 79 in this week's ITA singles rankings. In doubles, the team of Alex Chatt and Maddie Lipp are No. 16, Lipp and Rheeya Doshi are No. 60 when paired with one another while Larner and Brooke Rischbieth are No. 65.
With its victory over the Spartans on Sunday, Northwestern improved its all-time record against Michigan State to a perfect 36-0.
The winner of Friday's match takes on the winner of the contest between Michigan and either Iowa or Indiana in Saturday's semifinal round.
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Third-seeded Northwestern looks to continue its stellar history in the Big Ten tournament when it faces sixth-seeded Michigan State in a quarterfinal round match at 2 p.m. Friday in Urbana, Illinois.
In head coach Claire Pollard's first 18 seasons at the helm of the Wildcats, the team has compiled a remarkable 49-3 record in Big Ten tournament action. NU won 13 consecutive league tourney titles from 1998-2011 as well as winning crowns in 2013 and 2014.
The tournament gets underway Thursday on the campus of the University of Illinois, though the Wildcats have an opening-round bye. The semifinal round is set for Saturday with the championship match to be played on Sunday.
Ranked No. 37 by the ITA this week, Northwestern (13-10, 9-2 B1G) will be facing Michigan State (17-7, 7-4) for the second consecutive match after posting a 4-3 victory in Evanston last Sunday. The Spartans won a closely contested doubles point, but the 'Cats bounced back to get singles wins at Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5.
Thanks in part to an upset win over No. 24 Brienne Minor of Michigan last Friday, junior Erin Larner went from unranked to No. 79 in this week's ITA singles rankings. In doubles, the team of Alex Chatt and Maddie Lipp are No. 16, Lipp and Rheeya Doshi are No. 60 when paired with one another while Larner and Brooke Rischbieth are No. 65.
With its victory over the Spartans on Sunday, Northwestern improved its all-time record against Michigan State to a perfect 36-0.
The winner of Friday's match takes on the winner of the contest between Michigan and either Iowa or Indiana in Saturday's semifinal round.