Northwestern University Athletics
Clash of Tennis Titans Compete
1/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 23, 2004
EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern's 14th-ranked women's tennis team (1-0) will face its first major test of the season when it takes on No. 8 William & Mary (2-0) at 11 a.m. (Central) Sunday in Williamsburg, Va.
The Wildcats started the season with an impressive 7-0 win over Eastern Michigan last Saturday. The nation's top-ranked doubles team of Cristelle Grier (Surrey, England/Putney) and Jessica Rush (Dallas, Texas/The Hockaday School) set the tone for the day with an 8-0 blanking of the Eagles' Victoria Domina and Kendra Clark. Andrea Yung (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) clinched the match for the 'Cats with her 6-2, 6-2 victory over Jessica Loose at No. 5 singles.
"We are excited for the opportunity to play a great team," said head coach Claire Pollard. "When one is ranked this high, one does not get to play too many teams that are ranked higher. We hope to take advantage of the situation and avenge our loss."
Last year, NU fell to the Tribe 4-3 in Evanston. William & Mary again will be a formidable team, boasting two ranked singles players and two ranked doubles team. The latter includes the No. 11 tandem of Amy Wei and Megan Muth, which beat George Washington's No. 1 doubles team 8-0. Muth is also ranked 77th in singles.
The Tribe's top-ranked singles player is Candice Fuchs, who is No. 57 nationally. Fuchs also had an excellent Sunday, besting George Washington's Lindy Frist 6-0, 6-1 and beating Richmond's Beatrice Grasu 6-2, 6-2. Fuchs teams with Kate Boomershine in doubles, and the pair is ranked 27th nationally.
"We have prepared well for this weekend," said Pollard. "It is early in the season, so who knows how good any ranked team is this season? We just need to play."
William & Mary also will play host to No. 27 Texas this weekend.
