RICHMOND, Va. — Northwestern kicked off its 2026 dual season in dominant fashion over the weekend, rolling to three straight victories in Richmond, Va. The 'Cats secured a pair of 7-0 sweeps against VCU and Temple on Friday and Saturday, respectively, before defeating Richmond 6-1 on Sunday.
In its season opener, the Wildcats (3-0) defeated VCU (1-1). To secure the doubles point, junior Autumn Rabjohns and first-year Margot Phanthala recorded the team's first doubles win of the year with a 6-1 victory at the No. 3 spot. Shortly thereafter, Northwestern won at the No. 2 spot with sophomore Maia Loureiro and first-year Marelie Raath securing a 6-4 triumph. Rabjohns, Phanthala, and Raath all won the first doubles match of their respective careers.
Phanthala, playing at the No. 1 slot, was the first Wildcat to complete her singles match, with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory for her first collegiate singles win. No. 3 Rabjohns followed suit with a 6-4, 6-1 scoreline. No. 4 Loureiro clinched the match for Northwestern with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) result, earning her second career win.
The results piled on for the Wildcats. Playing at the No. 6 spot, Raath registered her first career win to the tune of 6-0, 6-4. At the No. 2 position, Neena Feldman came back from down a set for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph, while No. 5 Mika Dagan Fruchtman did the same in a 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 decision.
Returning to action the next morning, Northwestern continued its dominance against Temple (0-2). In assertive fashion, the Wildcats took the doubles point with a 6-1 win at No. 1 by Loureiro and sophomore Erica Jessel and a 6-2 victory at No. 2 by Feldman and Raath.
The match followed the same script as the one that took place nearly 24 hours prior. No. 1 Phanthala and No. 3 Rabjohns tabbed identical 6-0, 6-1 scorelines in their wins, and at No. 4, Loureiro clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph.
No. 5 Dagan Fruchtman registered a 6-1, 6-2 straight-set victory. No. 2 Feldman and No. 6 Raath saw their matches go to match tiebreaks, but both reigned supreme with 6-4, 1-6, [10-2] and 3-6, 6-2, [10-2] results, respectively.
On Sunday, Northwestern downed Richmond (0-2) to cap off its road trip. In similar fashion to the day before, the pairings of Jessel and Loureiro at No. 1 and Feldman and Raath at No. 2 both collected 6-3 victories to win the doubles point for the 'Cats.
In the singles portion, Rabjohns finished off her impressive opening weekend with a 6-0, 6-1 win at the No. 3 position. She was followed by Loureiro, who won 6-1, 6-4 to complete a perfect weekend of her own. From there, No. 1 Phanthala's 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 win rounded out the day to guarantee the dual for NU.
After the match had been decided, both Dagan Fruchtman (6-1, 6-3) and Raath (7-6 (7-4), 6-4) added on wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions to bring the score to 6-1.
Northwestern will return to action next weekend, when it is set to host UIC in the home opener on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 10 a.m. CT.
In its season opener, the Wildcats (3-0) defeated VCU (1-1). To secure the doubles point, junior Autumn Rabjohns and first-year Margot Phanthala recorded the team's first doubles win of the year with a 6-1 victory at the No. 3 spot. Shortly thereafter, Northwestern won at the No. 2 spot with sophomore Maia Loureiro and first-year Marelie Raath securing a 6-4 triumph. Rabjohns, Phanthala, and Raath all won the first doubles match of their respective careers.
Phanthala, playing at the No. 1 slot, was the first Wildcat to complete her singles match, with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory for her first collegiate singles win. No. 3 Rabjohns followed suit with a 6-4, 6-1 scoreline. No. 4 Loureiro clinched the match for Northwestern with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) result, earning her second career win.
The results piled on for the Wildcats. Playing at the No. 6 spot, Raath registered her first career win to the tune of 6-0, 6-4. At the No. 2 position, Neena Feldman came back from down a set for a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 triumph, while No. 5 Mika Dagan Fruchtman did the same in a 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 decision.
Returning to action the next morning, Northwestern continued its dominance against Temple (0-2). In assertive fashion, the Wildcats took the doubles point with a 6-1 win at No. 1 by Loureiro and sophomore Erica Jessel and a 6-2 victory at No. 2 by Feldman and Raath.
The match followed the same script as the one that took place nearly 24 hours prior. No. 1 Phanthala and No. 3 Rabjohns tabbed identical 6-0, 6-1 scorelines in their wins, and at No. 4, Loureiro clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-2 triumph.
No. 5 Dagan Fruchtman registered a 6-1, 6-2 straight-set victory. No. 2 Feldman and No. 6 Raath saw their matches go to match tiebreaks, but both reigned supreme with 6-4, 1-6, [10-2] and 3-6, 6-2, [10-2] results, respectively.
On Sunday, Northwestern downed Richmond (0-2) to cap off its road trip. In similar fashion to the day before, the pairings of Jessel and Loureiro at No. 1 and Feldman and Raath at No. 2 both collected 6-3 victories to win the doubles point for the 'Cats.
In the singles portion, Rabjohns finished off her impressive opening weekend with a 6-0, 6-1 win at the No. 3 position. She was followed by Loureiro, who won 6-1, 6-4 to complete a perfect weekend of her own. From there, No. 1 Phanthala's 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 win rounded out the day to guarantee the dual for NU.
After the match had been decided, both Dagan Fruchtman (6-1, 6-3) and Raath (7-6 (7-4), 6-4) added on wins at the No. 5 and No. 6 positions to bring the score to 6-1.
Northwestern will return to action next weekend, when it is set to host UIC in the home opener on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 10 a.m. CT.