Northwestern University Athletics
'Cats Conclude Impressive Showing at National Collegiate Tennis Classic
1/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 15, 2007
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. -- Freshmen led the way for the 'Cats at the National Collegiate Tennis Classic in Palm Springs, Calif. as Samantha Murray (Altrincham, England/Altrincham Grammar) advanced to the semifinals of the main singles draw and Suzie Matzenauer (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine) made the quarterfinals. Sophomore Georgia Rose, after falling early in the tournament, advanced to the finals of the consolation singles draw.
Murray fell to USC's top-seeded Lyndsey Nelson, the eventual champion, in the semifinals, 6-2, 6-1. Matzenauer, who advanced to the quarterfinals, fell Saturday afternoon.
In the championship doubles draw, the pair of sophomores Nazlie Ghazal (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) and Keri Robison (Decatur, Ill./Keystone National) advanced to the semifinals Saturday, but fell to UCLA's Schnack and Zalameda.
In the singles consolation bracket, Rose defeated Stephanie Davidson of Texas, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, to advance to the consolation singles final. Travel constraints kept Rose and her opponent from Baylor from playing the match.
In doubles action, two Northwestern teams advanced through the consolation draw to the finals. Although the match was not played, the 30th-ranked tandem of Alexis Prousis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) and Rose would have met the team of Alexis Conill (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) and Matzenauer.
The NCTC, referred to as "The Wimbledon of College Tennis" featured players from several of the nation's top programs. The 'Cats went up against foes from UCLA, Stanford, USC, Georgia Tech, Baylor and Texas.
The 'Cats' last event before the start of the dual season is the Seminole Invitational hosted by Florida State, Jan. 19-21. The ninth-ranked Wildcats begin dual play January 24 when they host DePaul.
