'Cats Clip Hawkeyes, 4-3

April 6, 2003

EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern upended Big Ten rival Iowa, 4-3, Sunday at the Combe Tennis Center, and more importantly it ended a six-match losing skid. The Wildcats fell behind 1-0 after losing the doubles point, but responded to win four of six singles matches to secure their first win since Feb. 28.

Freshman Adam Schaechterle (Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine) clinched the match for NU with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Chaitu Malempati.

"We needed this win," said NU head coach Paul Torricelli. "After losing the doubles point we knew we were in for a dogfight. But I still felt pretty comfortable heading into singles, and the guys were confident to get it done."

Senior Josh Axler (Huntington, N.Y./Walt Whitman), sophomore Chuck Perrin (Atlanta, Ga./The Walker School) and junior Ahmed Wahla (Lahore, Pakistan/Lahore American School) also each picked up straight-set wins as the match barely exceeded 2:30.

Axler and Russell Bennett (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) paired up at No. 2 doubles for the 'Cats' only doubles win, an 8-3 decision against Tres Jones and Johan Bergenas.

The Wildcats (9-8, 2-4 Big Ten) return to action April 12 against Penn State. Match time is set for noon Central time in Evanston.

No. 47 Northwestern 4, Iowa 3

Doubles
1. Hunter Skogman/Stuart Waters (IOWA) def. Tommy Hanus/Chuck Perrin (NU), 8-6
2. Josh Axler/Russell Bennett (NU) def. Tres Jones/Johan Bergenas (IOWA), 8-3
3. Pete Rose/Chaitu Malempati (IOWA) def. Jackie Jenkins/Adam Schaechterle (NU), 8-5

Singles
1. Waters (IOWA) def. #121 Hanus (NU), 6-4, 6-1
2. Skogman (IOWA) def. Jenkins (NU), 7-5, 6-4
3. Axler (NU) def. Rose (IOWA), 6-3, 6-2
4. Perrin (NU) def. Bergenas (IOWA), 6-4, 6-1
5. Schaechterle (NU) def. Malempati (IOWA), 6-4, 6-2
6. Ahmed Wahla (NU) def. Parker Ross (IOWA), 6-2, 6-0

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Players Mentioned

Adam Schaechterle

Northwestern University Athletics