Northwestern University Athletics
Katherine Nasser Wins ITA Midwest Regional Singles Title
11/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Nov. 9, 1999
EVANSTON, Ill. - Katherine Nasser, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1998, gave a strong indication she might be coming back into that championship form this past weekend. At the ITA Midwest Regional Championships, hosted by Ohio State, Nasser ? who was seeded in the 9-16 range ? earned the singles title.
Nasser had straight-set wins in each of her first three matches, including a stunning 6-2, 6-2 win over fourth-seeded Becky Varnum of Notre Dame. In the fourth round, she defeated Michigan's Brooke Hart, 7-6, 3-6, 6-2, before earning another straight-set win over Marquette's Sara Fernandez. In the championship match, Nasser fought back valiantly to down the No. 3 seed, Kristy Dascoli of Ohio State, 3-6, 7-6, 6-1.
That capped a successful run for the defending Big Ten champion Wildcats. Colleen Cheng advanced to the fourth round before falling to Dascoli, while freshman Marine Piriou went out in the third round to Dascoli. Shannon Duffy, who was the highest seed of all the Wildcats in the 5-8 range, was upset in the second round by Monica Rincon of Ohio State. Jennifer Lutgert, who won three qualifying matches to gain entry into the field of 64, fell in the second round to Notre Dame's Varnum. Lia Jackson, meanwhile, fell in the first round to Cincinnati's Kara Molony but came back to win three matches in the consolation bracket.
In doubles action, Nasser and Jackson were seeded fourth and advanced to the third round before falling to Wisconsin's Gabler and Mues, 6-1, 6-4. In the qualifying rounds, Lutgert and Piriou won twice before falling to Notre Dame's duo of Cuhna and Guy, 8-3.
