SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 6, 2023) – Christina Hand & Justine Leong picked up a pair of victories at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Fall Championships to highlight a busy weekend for Northwestern women's tennis as the Wildcats wrapped up the fall portion of their 2023-24 schedule.
Ranked No. 26 in the ITA Preseason Poll, Hand & Leong got off to a fast start at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, Calif., cruising to a win in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) over Denver's Andrea Beltran & Britt Pursell in a Round of 32 matchup, setting up an All-Big Ten tilt with the nation's No. 4 ranked tandem of Kari Miller & Jaedan Brown from Michigan. Hand & Leong didn't disappoint, scoring another straight sets victory by way of a 7-5, 6-1 decision to earn a quarterfinal-round berth.
The Wildcat duo saw its run end a win shy of the semifinals, falling by a 6-3, 6-1 final to Auge Oby Kajuru and Anastasiya Komar of Oklahoma State.
Northwestern also sent a contingent of seven student-athletes to the Miami Fall Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla. Britany Lau led the charge for the 'Cats in singles action, picking up two victories against opposition from Georgia Tech. Jennifer Riester and Autumn Rabjohns also tallied singles wins.
In doubles play, Kiley Rabjohns was part of a pair of victorious tandems, scoring wins alongside Lau (6-4) and Elisa Van Meeteren (6-1).
LOOKING AHEAD
Northwestern will be idle until Monday, January 15 when it kicks off the dual portion of its schedule against Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla.
Ranked No. 26 in the ITA Preseason Poll, Hand & Leong got off to a fast start at the Barnes Tennis Center in San Diego, Calif., cruising to a win in straight sets (6-3, 6-2) over Denver's Andrea Beltran & Britt Pursell in a Round of 32 matchup, setting up an All-Big Ten tilt with the nation's No. 4 ranked tandem of Kari Miller & Jaedan Brown from Michigan. Hand & Leong didn't disappoint, scoring another straight sets victory by way of a 7-5, 6-1 decision to earn a quarterfinal-round berth.
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— NU Women's Tennis (@NUWildcatTennis) November 3, 2023
Christina Hand & Justine Leong advance on at #ITAFallNats after rolling to a 7-5, 6-1 win over Michigan's fourth-ranked pairing of Kari Miller & Jaedan Brown! #GoCats | @ITA_Tennis pic.twitter.com/TO8z8y9mur
The Wildcat duo saw its run end a win shy of the semifinals, falling by a 6-3, 6-1 final to Auge Oby Kajuru and Anastasiya Komar of Oklahoma State.
Northwestern also sent a contingent of seven student-athletes to the Miami Fall Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla. Britany Lau led the charge for the 'Cats in singles action, picking up two victories against opposition from Georgia Tech. Jennifer Riester and Autumn Rabjohns also tallied singles wins.
In doubles play, Kiley Rabjohns was part of a pair of victorious tandems, scoring wins alongside Lau (6-4) and Elisa Van Meeteren (6-1).
LOOKING AHEAD
Northwestern will be idle until Monday, January 15 when it kicks off the dual portion of its schedule against Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Fla.