Results (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 12 Northwestern closed out the home portion of its regular season in style Sunday, taking down Minnesota, 6-1, at Combe Tennis Center.
The victory allowed the Wildcats to remain in first place and undefeated in Big Ten play, improving to 17-4 overall and 9-0 against conference foes. With two matches remaining, Northwestern holds a one-game lead over Michigan in the league standings.
The Golden Gophers gave NU all it could handle in a battle for the doubles point. However, that wasn't the case at No. 1 where the fourth-ranked team of Erin Larner and Maddie Lipp dominated to the tune of a 6-0 triumph. The other two matches were much more competitive as the matchups at Nos. 2 and 3 were both tied, 5-5. Northwestern got the decisive win at No. 3 as the team of Rheeya Doshi and Julie Byrne broke and then held thanks to some strong serving to earn the 7-5 victory.
In singles action, Larner continued to state her case for Big Ten Player of the Year as she remained undefeated against conference opponents, winning 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 over Caroline Ryba. Or got Northwestern within one point of victory when she closed out a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 over Annemarie Emme.
Byrne notched the clincher moments later when she took down Barbara Mancera, 6-2, 6-2. First-year Inci Ogut added to the lead with a victory at No. 5, defeating Caitlyn Merzbacher, 6-4, 6-4.
Minnesota was able to get on the board thanks to a tight victory at No. 6 before Lipp closed out the match with a tough 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (8) win at No. 2, punctuating the victory.
Northwestern can clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title Friday when it travels to Penn State. The match is slated to get underway at 3 p.m. Central time.
#12 Northwestern 6, Minnesota 1
Doubles
1. #4 Erin Larner/Maddie Lipp (NU) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) 6-0
2. #25 Alex Chatt/Lee Or (NU) vs. Tina Kreinis/Annemarie Emme (MINN) 5-5, unfinished
3. Julie Byrne/Rheeya Doshi (NU) def. River Hart/Caroline Ryba (MINN) 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 3*
Singles
1. #35 Erin Larner (NU) def. Caroline Ryba (MINN) 6-1, 6-1
2. #68 Maddie Lipp (NU) def. Tina Kreinis (MINN) 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Lee Or (NU) def. Annemarie Emme (MINN) 6-3, 6-1
4. Julie Byrne (NU) def. Barbara Mancera (MINN) 6-2, 6-2
5. Inci Ogut (NU) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
6. Cammy Frei (MINN) def. Alex Chatt (NU) 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4*, 5, 6, 2
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 12 Northwestern closed out the home portion of its regular season in style Sunday, taking down Minnesota, 6-1, at Combe Tennis Center.
The victory allowed the Wildcats to remain in first place and undefeated in Big Ten play, improving to 17-4 overall and 9-0 against conference foes. With two matches remaining, Northwestern holds a one-game lead over Michigan in the league standings.
The Golden Gophers gave NU all it could handle in a battle for the doubles point. However, that wasn't the case at No. 1 where the fourth-ranked team of Erin Larner and Maddie Lipp dominated to the tune of a 6-0 triumph. The other two matches were much more competitive as the matchups at Nos. 2 and 3 were both tied, 5-5. Northwestern got the decisive win at No. 3 as the team of Rheeya Doshi and Julie Byrne broke and then held thanks to some strong serving to earn the 7-5 victory.
In singles action, Larner continued to state her case for Big Ten Player of the Year as she remained undefeated against conference opponents, winning 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 over Caroline Ryba. Or got Northwestern within one point of victory when she closed out a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. 3 over Annemarie Emme.
Byrne notched the clincher moments later when she took down Barbara Mancera, 6-2, 6-2. First-year Inci Ogut added to the lead with a victory at No. 5, defeating Caitlyn Merzbacher, 6-4, 6-4.
Minnesota was able to get on the board thanks to a tight victory at No. 6 before Lipp closed out the match with a tough 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (8) win at No. 2, punctuating the victory.
Northwestern can clinch at least a share of the Big Ten regular-season title Friday when it travels to Penn State. The match is slated to get underway at 3 p.m. Central time.
#12 Northwestern 6, Minnesota 1
Doubles
1. #4 Erin Larner/Maddie Lipp (NU) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher/Mehvish Safdar (MINN) 6-0
2. #25 Alex Chatt/Lee Or (NU) vs. Tina Kreinis/Annemarie Emme (MINN) 5-5, unfinished
3. Julie Byrne/Rheeya Doshi (NU) def. River Hart/Caroline Ryba (MINN) 7-5
Order of finish: 1, 3*
Singles
1. #35 Erin Larner (NU) def. Caroline Ryba (MINN) 6-1, 6-1
2. #68 Maddie Lipp (NU) def. Tina Kreinis (MINN) 6-1, 5-7, 1-0 (10-8)
3. Lee Or (NU) def. Annemarie Emme (MINN) 6-3, 6-1
4. Julie Byrne (NU) def. Barbara Mancera (MINN) 6-2, 6-2
5. Inci Ogut (NU) def. Caitlyn Merzbacher (MINN) 6-4, 6-4
6. Cammy Frei (MINN) def. Alex Chatt (NU) 6-4, 6-4
Order of finish: 1, 3, 4*, 5, 6, 2