EVANSTON, Ill. (March 21, 2023) – Following what will amount to a 12-day hiatus from head-to-head competition, Northwestern women’s tennis is back in action this week to take on a pair of opponents who reside in the top 10 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Team Rankings.
The Wildcats open the week by visiting Durham, N.C. on Wednesday to close non-conference action by clashing with No. 10 Duke at 3 p.m. (CT). Northwestern returns to the friendly confines of the Combe Tennis Center on Sunday at 2:30 p.m., opening a three-match homestand against No. 7 Ohio State.
Sunday’s tilt with the Buckeyes will serve as part of a tripleheader of Northwestern tennis action, with the Wildcat men set to matchup against Penn State at 10:30 a.m. and Chicago State at 6 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern gave No. 28 Illinois all it could handle back on March 10, coming up on the short end of a hard-fought 4-3 decision to the Fighting Illini at the Combe Tennis Center.
After dropping the doubles point, Northwestern rallied to split the singles matchups. Maria Shusharina rolled to a 6-2, 6-2 win in straight sets, while Justine Leong prevailed in a marathon first set, 7-6 (7-4), on her way to a victory of her own, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, over No. 100 Ashley Yeah. Kiley Rabjohns rounded out the scoring on the evening for the ‘Cats, picking up her second consecutive win in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
Energy at Combe was ?? on Friday! #GoCats pic.twitter.com/2TV5adUHze
— NU Women’s Tennis (@NUWildcatTennis) March 13, 2023
B1G HONOR FOR LEONG
For her efforts against Illinois, Leong was tabbed the Big Ten Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Week this past Wednesday. Leong, who has seven singles wins to her name this season, is the first Wildcat to earn the weekly league honor since Julie Byrne during the 2019-20 campaign.
?????? honor for Justine!
Justine Leong is the first ?? to be named Big Ten Player of the Week since 2019-20.
?? https://t.co/hyNNo3l2ES#GoCats pic.twitter.com/k0mNOg8tXj
— NU Women’s Tennis (@NUWildcatTennis) March 15, 2023
LOOKING AHEAD
Currently sitting at No. 10 in the ITA Team Rankings, Duke, which holds a 15-2 overall record that includes a 5-1 mark in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) action, has won four straight and seven of its last eight matchups. The Blue Devils…
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