Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota -- Big Ten Championships
Wildcats Win Fifth Big Ten Women's Tennis Championship
4/27/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 27, 2003
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Northwestern avenged an earlier loss to Minnesota to win its fifth consecutive Big Ten Women's Tennis Championship Sunday afternoon at the Atkins Tennis Center. The Wildcats defeated Minnesota 4-2 to claim the title.
The Wildcats came in as the No. 2 seed after an 8-2 Big Ten record during the regular season that included a loss to Minnesota that snapped the Wildcats' 29-match winning streak in the Conference. Minnesota was the No. 1 seed after posting a 9-1 Conference record after finishing dead last in the Big Ten in 2002.
However, on Sunday, it was clear from the beginning that Northwestern wasn't going to easily give up its stranglehold on the Big Ten Championship.
After taking the doubles point, freshman Cristelle Grier continued her outstanding season for the Wildcats with a 6-1, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles over Angela Buergis to put Northwestern up, 2-0. Grier also upped her record to 12-0 against Big Ten foes and remained unbeaten in dual matches at 25-0.
The Wildcats took a 3-0 lead when Stacy Kokx got by Brandi Watts at No. 6 singles, 6-1, 6-0. Minnesota notched its first point when Nischela Reddy won at No. 5 singles against Ruth Barnes straight sets, 6-3, 6-1.
Valerie Vladea drew the Gophers to within a point at 3-2, winning at No. 2 singles. Vladea handed the Wildcats' Jessica Rush her second straight loss in the championship with a 7-6 (2), 7-5 win. Vladea was down 5-3 in the second but took advantage of two break points and held serve to close out the match.
But moments later, Andrea Yung closed out the match for Northwestern with a 7-5, 6-2 win at No. 4 singles over Michaela Havelkova to give the Wildcats their fifth consecutive Big Ten Women's Tennis Championship.
Northwestern captured the doubles point with wins at No. 1 and 2. Barnes and Yung finished their match first, as the duo beat Amy Thomas and Vladea, 8-5. Barnes and Yung actually had a 5-1 lead before Minnesota won four of the next five games to cut its deficit to 6-5. But Barnes and Yung held serve and broke Minnesota's serve to close out the match. The Wildcats then clinched the point at No. 1 doubles when Grier and Rush ran their Big Ten record to 13-0 this season with a come-from-behind 9-8 (6) win over Buergis and Reddy.
With its win, Northwestern now has won seven Big Ten Championships overall and the Wildcats have not lost a match at the Conference championship since 1998.
No. 1 Minnesota vs. No. 2 Northwestern
NU 4, UM 2
Singles
1) Cristelle Grier (NU) def. Angela Buergis(MINN), 6-1, 6-1
2) Valerie Vladea (MINN) def. Jessica Rush (NU), 7-6 (2), 7-5
3) Jamie Peisel (NU) vs. Amy Thomas (MINN), 4-6, 6-4, 4-1, abandoned
4) Andrea Yung (NU) def. Michaela Havelkova (MINN), 7-5, 6-2
5) Nischela Reddy (MINN) def. Ruth Barnes (NU), 6-3, 6-1
6) Stacy Kokx (NU) def. Brandi Watts(MINN), 6-1, 6-0
Doubles
1) Grier/Rush (NU) def. Buergis/Reddy (MINN), 9-8 (6)
2) Barnes/Yung (NU) def. Thomas/Vladea (MINN), 8-5
3) Peisel/Kokx (NU) vs. Havelkova/Watts (MINN), 8-8, abandoned
