EVANSTON, Ill. (March 1, 2023) – Northwestern women’s tennis (4-6) looks to bounce back from a pair of setbacks as it returns to action this weekend.
The ‘Cats will open the weekend at home against No. 17 Kansas on Friday, March 3 at 4:30 p.m. inside the Combe Tennis Center. Northwestern follows that up by opening Big Ten Conference play less than 48 hours later, heading to Bloomington, Ind. for a 10 a.m. (CT) tilt with Indiana on Sunday, March 5.
Northwestern will put an impressive streak on the line in Sunday’s weekend finale. The Wildcats have rattled off 24 straight victories in Big Ten openers, a streak that dates back to the 1998-99 season.
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern opened its two-match swing through Florida with a 4-3 loss against South Florida on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. The pairings of Briana Crowley and Sydney Pratt (6-3) and Justine Leong and Christina Hand (6-2) each came out victorious to secure the doubles point for the ‘Cats. Hand (6-3, 7-6 (10-8)) was also victorious in singles, winning in straight sets, while Crowley (6-4, 3-6, 6-4) tacked on another point, winning her matchup in three sets.
In Monday’s match against No. 7 Texas A&M, Leong accounted for the Wildcats’ lone point of the afternoon, picking up a 6-1, 6-2 triumph, as Northwestern dropped a 5-1 decision in Orlando, Fla. to the Aggies.
LOOKING AHEAD
Kansas rolls into Evanston on a six-match win streak that has seen the Jayhawks run their record to 7-1 on the year. Currently ranked No. 17 in the latest Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) NCAA Division I Women’s Team Rankings, Kansas’ attack is headlined by No. 41 Malkia Ngounoue, who has a 5-1 record in dual action this season.
The Jayhawks are coming off back-to-back ranked wins this past weekend, having picked up 4-0 decisions over No. 75 Missouri and No. 44 SMU, respectively.
Winners of three straight, Indiana sits at 8-3 on the year after coasting past Western Michigan, 4-0, and Belmont, 5-2, over the weekend, extending their win streak in matches played at the IU Tennis Center to three. The Hoosiers appear at No. 72 in the ITA Team Rankings.
Indiana is led by Saby Nihalani who has a 7-1 record in singles matchups this year. Nihalani has also been a force in doubles playing alongside Lara Schneider, as the duo boasts an 8-1 mark.
…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Northwestern University Athletics…