ATHENS, Ga. -- Northwestern's duo of Alex Chatt and Maddie Lipp advanced to the second round of the NCAA Doubles Championship on Thursday by posting a 6-2, 7-6 opening-round win over Texas Tech's Sarah Dvorak and Sabrina Federici.
With the win, Chatt and Lipp move on to face the winner of the match between the fourth-seeded North Carolina team of Jessie Aney and Hayley Carter and Georgia's Eleni Christofi and Kennedy Shaffer on Friday with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
Appearing in the Championship for the second straight year, Chatt and Lipp came out of the gates ready to go as they picked up an early break to help them surge out to an early 4-1 lead. The advantage was 5-2 when the Wildcats' team broke again to secure the first set.
The second set was much closer, though, Northwestern had an opportunity to serve for the match, leading 5-3. Texas Tech managed to break, however, and both teams then held as the match appeared headed for a second-set tiebreaker. Chatt and Lipp decided not to take it that far, though, breaking the Red Raiders' serve to earn their first NCAA tournament win.
NCAA Doubles Championship
First Round
#15 Maddie Lipp/Alex Chatt (NU) def. #26 Sarah Dvorak/Sabrini Federici (TTU) 6-2, 7-5
With the win, Chatt and Lipp move on to face the winner of the match between the fourth-seeded North Carolina team of Jessie Aney and Hayley Carter and Georgia's Eleni Christofi and Kennedy Shaffer on Friday with a quarterfinal berth on the line.
Appearing in the Championship for the second straight year, Chatt and Lipp came out of the gates ready to go as they picked up an early break to help them surge out to an early 4-1 lead. The advantage was 5-2 when the Wildcats' team broke again to secure the first set.
The second set was much closer, though, Northwestern had an opportunity to serve for the match, leading 5-3. Texas Tech managed to break, however, and both teams then held as the match appeared headed for a second-set tiebreaker. Chatt and Lipp decided not to take it that far, though, breaking the Red Raiders' serve to earn their first NCAA tournament win.
NCAA Doubles Championship
First Round
#15 Maddie Lipp/Alex Chatt (NU) def. #26 Sarah Dvorak/Sabrini Federici (TTU) 6-2, 7-5