EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern women's tennis swept a doubleheader on Sunday at home to wrap up a 2-1 weekend overall. After falling on the road on Saturday, the 'Cats picked up a pair of 4-0 victories over DePaul and Eastern Illinois on Sunday to improve to 3-1 on the season after two weeks of dual action.
The 'Cats opened the weekend slate at Illinois, where they fell 4-2 to the Illini in a non-conference meeting. The No. 42 ranked doubles duo of Mika Dagan Fruchtman and Britany Lau picked up a 7-5 doubles victory, and the 'Cats picked up wins at both No. 5 and No. 6 singles, but it wasn't enough to take down their in-state rivals.
On Sunday, however, the 'Cats were nearly perfect in a full day of action. They opened the morning by taking the doubles point over DePaul, using a 6-3 victory from the combination of Sydney Pratt and Erica Jessel and a 6-1 victory from Lau and Dagan Fruchtman to capture the match's first lead.
From there, Lau locked up a decisive 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles to stretch the 'Cats' advantage. A pair of first years made the difference from there; Maia Loureiro won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6 singles - good for her first individual win in collegiate dual action - then Jessel provided match point with a 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 2 position.
In the night cap, the 'Cats were even more dominant. Loureiro and partner Katya Shepherd Johnson put up an unblemished 6-0 score at No. 3 doubles, and Pratt and Jessel made it a 2-0 day with a 6-1 win at the No. 2 position.
In singles play, Autumn Rabjohns was the first to the finish line with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles - the highest position of her career. Dagan Fruchtman won in straight sets as well, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 1 singles to put the 'Cats on the doorstep, then Shepherd Johnson sealed the deal with her first collegiate victory (6-1, 6-2).
Next up for the 'Cats is another home dual. They'll prepare to host Georgia Tech on Sunday, February 2, at noon in Combe Tennis Center.
The 'Cats opened the weekend slate at Illinois, where they fell 4-2 to the Illini in a non-conference meeting. The No. 42 ranked doubles duo of Mika Dagan Fruchtman and Britany Lau picked up a 7-5 doubles victory, and the 'Cats picked up wins at both No. 5 and No. 6 singles, but it wasn't enough to take down their in-state rivals.
On Sunday, however, the 'Cats were nearly perfect in a full day of action. They opened the morning by taking the doubles point over DePaul, using a 6-3 victory from the combination of Sydney Pratt and Erica Jessel and a 6-1 victory from Lau and Dagan Fruchtman to capture the match's first lead.
From there, Lau locked up a decisive 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 3 singles to stretch the 'Cats' advantage. A pair of first years made the difference from there; Maia Loureiro won 6-3, 6-0 at No. 6 singles - good for her first individual win in collegiate dual action - then Jessel provided match point with a 6-3, 6-1 win at the No. 2 position.
In the night cap, the 'Cats were even more dominant. Loureiro and partner Katya Shepherd Johnson put up an unblemished 6-0 score at No. 3 doubles, and Pratt and Jessel made it a 2-0 day with a 6-1 win at the No. 2 position.
In singles play, Autumn Rabjohns was the first to the finish line with a 6-0, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles - the highest position of her career. Dagan Fruchtman won in straight sets as well, 6-1, 6-1, at No. 1 singles to put the 'Cats on the doorstep, then Shepherd Johnson sealed the deal with her first collegiate victory (6-1, 6-2).
Next up for the 'Cats is another home dual. They'll prepare to host Georgia Tech on Sunday, February 2, at noon in Combe Tennis Center.