EVANSTON, Ill. (April 13, 2023) – Fresh off a weekend sweep on the East Coast, No. 70 Northwestern women's tennis (9-11, 5-3 B1G) heads north to Madison, Wis. on Sunday to take on No. 21 Wisconsin. First serve is set for 12 p.m. inside at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium.
Currently riding a four-match win streak, the 'Cats sit fifth in the Big Ten Conference standings, just a half-game back of the Badgers. The top four teams in the conference at the conclusion of the regular season will receive a coveted double-bye in the Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament, slated for April 26-30 in West Lafayette, Ind.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern picked up a pair of road wins over the weekend, blanking No. 56 Maryland, 4-0, ahead of a 4-1 win over Rutgers.
In Friday's win over the Terrapins, the 'Cats secured the doubles point after victories from the tandems of Christina Hand and Justine Leong, 6-4, and Aino Alkio and Sydney Pratt, 6-2. Leong (6-4, 6-1), Pratt (6-3, 6-4), and Maria Shusharina (7-6 (7-5), 6-2) each picked up wins in singles play to clinch the match.
Hand and Leong again flexed their muscle in doubles against the Scarlet Knights, notching another 6-4 win that, combined with a 6-3 triumph from Shusharina and Briana Crowley, again staked the Wildcats to an early lead. Shusharina (6-3, 6-0), Hand (6-4, 6-2), and Leong (6-4, 6-2) added wins in straight sets to wrap up a 2-0 weekend.
'CATS IN THE POLLS
Following its two wins last week, Northwestern reentered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Team Rankings, appearing at No. 70 in the latest edition of the poll that was released on Tuesday. The Wildcats are one of 11 Big Ten Conference teams to be ranked.
Winners of their last seven completed matches, Hand and Leong appear at No. 39 in the doubles rankings. The duo holds a sparking 3-0 mark against Big Ten opposition in 2023. Hand climbed 12 spots in the singles poll following her win in Sunday's weekend finale, checking in at No. 111.
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Northwestern's matchup with Minnesota that was originally slated for Friday, April 14 was canceled due to injury concerns within the Golden Gophers' program, with the Wildcats recording a 7-0 victory by forfeit.
LOOKING AHEAD
Ranked No. 21 in the latest ITA Team Rankings, Wisconsin (15-4, 6-2 B1G) was victorious in its lone match last week, cruising to a 4-1 win over No. 56 Maryland. Before battling Northwestern, the Badgers will entertain No. 34 Illinois on Friday in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin's roster features a trio of players ranked by the ITA. No. 50 Ava Markham highlights the group, holding a 12-5 record that includes a 5-2 ledger in Big Ten play. Maria Sholokhova has used a four-match win streak to move up to No. 79, while Xinyu Cai, who has a team-best 13 wins to her name, sits at No. 110. On the doubles front, Markham and Sholokhova have posted an 11-4 mark.
Currently riding a four-match win streak, the 'Cats sit fifth in the Big Ten Conference standings, just a half-game back of the Badgers. The top four teams in the conference at the conclusion of the regular season will receive a coveted double-bye in the Big Ten Women's Tennis Tournament, slated for April 26-30 in West Lafayette, Ind.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern picked up a pair of road wins over the weekend, blanking No. 56 Maryland, 4-0, ahead of a 4-1 win over Rutgers.
In Friday's win over the Terrapins, the 'Cats secured the doubles point after victories from the tandems of Christina Hand and Justine Leong, 6-4, and Aino Alkio and Sydney Pratt, 6-2. Leong (6-4, 6-1), Pratt (6-3, 6-4), and Maria Shusharina (7-6 (7-5), 6-2) each picked up wins in singles play to clinch the match.
Friday dub ??????????????#GoCats pic.twitter.com/Dy1yA9WtWQ
— NU Women's Tennis (@NUWildcatTennis) April 7, 2023
Hand and Leong again flexed their muscle in doubles against the Scarlet Knights, notching another 6-4 win that, combined with a 6-3 triumph from Shusharina and Briana Crowley, again staked the Wildcats to an early lead. Shusharina (6-3, 6-0), Hand (6-4, 6-2), and Leong (6-4, 6-2) added wins in straight sets to wrap up a 2-0 weekend.
That's 3?? straight wins for the 'Cats!#GoCats pic.twitter.com/nUmAVKPoWP
— NU Women's Tennis (@NUWildcatTennis) April 9, 2023
'CATS IN THE POLLS
Following its two wins last week, Northwestern reentered the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Team Rankings, appearing at No. 70 in the latest edition of the poll that was released on Tuesday. The Wildcats are one of 11 Big Ten Conference teams to be ranked.
?? are back in the @ITA_Tennis Team Rankings at #70!#GoCats pic.twitter.com/WktREACbIv
— NU Women's Tennis (@NUWildcatTennis) April 11, 2023
Winners of their last seven completed matches, Hand and Leong appear at No. 39 in the doubles rankings. The duo holds a sparking 3-0 mark against Big Ten opposition in 2023. Hand climbed 12 spots in the singles poll following her win in Sunday's weekend finale, checking in at No. 111.
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Northwestern's matchup with Minnesota that was originally slated for Friday, April 14 was canceled due to injury concerns within the Golden Gophers' program, with the Wildcats recording a 7-0 victory by forfeit.
LOOKING AHEAD
Ranked No. 21 in the latest ITA Team Rankings, Wisconsin (15-4, 6-2 B1G) was victorious in its lone match last week, cruising to a 4-1 win over No. 56 Maryland. Before battling Northwestern, the Badgers will entertain No. 34 Illinois on Friday in Madison, Wis.
Wisconsin's roster features a trio of players ranked by the ITA. No. 50 Ava Markham highlights the group, holding a 12-5 record that includes a 5-2 ledger in Big Ten play. Maria Sholokhova has used a four-match win streak to move up to No. 79, while Xinyu Cai, who has a team-best 13 wins to her name, sits at No. 110. On the doubles front, Markham and Sholokhova have posted an 11-4 mark.