EVANSTON, Ill. – Following a 2-0 weekend trip to Indiana, No. 27 Northwestern will host No. 23 Illinois at Vandy Christie Tennis Center on Saturday, April 8.
The ‘Cats kicked off last weekend with a 5-1 win against the Hoosiers. Gleb Blekher and Felix Nordby secured a 6-3 win at #3 Doubles, but Indiana claimed the doubles point to take a 1-0 lead early. Northwestern responded by winning five singles courts. Felix Nordby got the Wildcats on the board with a 6-0, 6-2 win at #6 Singles. Presley Thieneman claimed a 6-3, 6-3 win at #4 Singles to put the ‘Cats in front. Steven Forman earned the third point of the match for NU with a 7-5, 6-0 win at #1 Singles. Simen Bratholm came from behind at #2 Singles with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win to clinch the match victory for Northwestern. Gleb Blekher tacked on with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 win at #5 Singles.
The Wildcats then traveled to West Lafayette, where they made quick work of the Boilermakers, earning a 4-0 sweep. Bleker/Nordby won 6-1 at #3 Doubles and Forman/Bratholm won 7-5 at #1 Doubles to earn the doubles point. Trice Pickens doubled Northwestern’s lead with a 6-0, 6-2 win at #3 Singles. Presley Thieneman gave Northwestern a 3-0 lead with a 6-4, 6-4 win at #4 Singles, and Felix Nordby clinched the match with a 6-4, 6-3 win at #6 Singles.
The Wildcats return to Evanston for their first outdoor match of the home season against No. 23 Illinois. The Fighting Illini boast a 15-8 record and a 3-1 record in Big Ten play, having also defeated Indiana and Purdue last weekend. Two Fighting Illini players appear in the ITA’s Singles Rankings, with Karlis Ozolins at No. 38 and Alex Petrov at No. 97. Additionally, two doubles pairings appear in the ITA Doubles Rankings, with Karlis Ozolins and Hunter Heck at No. 41 and Mathis Debru and Oliver Okonkwo at No. 54.
After the Illinois match, Northwestern will stay at home for a trio of matches. The ‘Cats will host Nebraska on Friday, April 14 before a doubleheader with Wisconsin and Illinois State on Sunday, April 16.
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