Northwestern University Athletics
1998-99 Women's Tennis Recap
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
June 17, 1999
First-year head coach Claire Pollard guided the women's tennis team to the 1999 Big Ten Championship, along with a 19-5 final dual record, the most wins in 13 years. NU captured the Big Ten regular season title with a 9-1 conference record, then posted 4-1 wins over Purdue, Illinois and Wisconsin for its first conference crown since 1986.
On May 15 and 16, the Wildcats were in Tempe, Ariz. for the NCAA Regional Championships hosted by 11th-seeded Arizona State. Northwestern beat Illinois on the first day (5-2), extending its winning streak to 12-straight matches. The following day, ASU ended the streak and the Wildcats' hopes for a berth into the NCAA Sweet Sixteen with a 5-2 defeat.
Northwestern's No. 1 doubles team made up of senior Laura Guignon and junior Katherine Nasser were selected to participate in the NCAA Doubles Championships in Gainesville, Fla. The duo earned a spot in the tournament after posting a 19-8 record and a No. 14 national ranking during the year. Unfortunately, the two were eliminated by a pair from Pepperdine (1-6, 6-4, 4-6) in the first round.
NU's top three singles players, Nasser, Guignon and sophomore Shannon Duffy were each named to the All-Big Ten team. It was Guignons first All-Big Ten distinction, while it marked the third time for Nasser and the second time for Duffy.
Junior Jennifer Lutgert had a career-best season at No. 6 singles. She recorded a 30-5 overall record and was two wins shy of breaking Duffys school record for most singles wins in a season. Lutgert also closed out the year with 13-consecutive matches won. The school record is 16 and Lutgert will have an opportunity at breaking that record next year.
The Cats earned a final national ranking of No. 24, but were ranked as high as No. 22 during the season. The future looks bright for this talented group, as they lose only one player from this years starting lineup to graduation.
