Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats, Tribe Convene to Open 2010 Dual Campaign
1/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
Jan. 21, 2010
EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 2 Northwestern's first official test of the 2010 spring season comes at 10 a.m. Saturday when the 'Cats host 47th-ranked William & Mary in NU's Combe Tennis Center. The visiting Tribe have their work cut out for them facing a Northwestern team that has gone 22-1 at home over the last two seasons.
All home tennis events this season are free for all fans. Live online scoring for the match is available by clicking here.
Northwestern head coach Claire Pollard begins her 12th dual season at the helm in Evanston having compiled an astounding 265-52 record directing the Wildcats. Pollard, who was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year in both 2008 and 2009, will once again be relying on veterans Maria Mosolova, Samantha Murray and Lauren Lui to lead her team through the dual season.
Mosolova, Murray and Lui posted dual match records of 17-5, 19-6 and 21-6, respectively, in 2009.
Scouting the Tribe
No. 47 William & Mary began its season in winning fashion last weekend as the Tribe swept both Maryland-Baltimore County and James Madison by 7-0 scores. Senior Carmen Pop is back to lead William & Mary following a 20-12 singles season and 13 dual wins as a junior. The Tribe's other lead senior is Ragini Acharya, an All-CAA selection a year ago and winner of the ITA East Region Singles Championship who was ranked as highly as No. 70 in singles.
Northwestern is 5-2 all-time against William & Mary, a mark that includes a 6-1 defeat of the Tribe a season ago in Williamsburg. W&M is the first of at least 11 teams ranked in the top 50 that Northwestern is slated to meet this season.
Looking Ahead
On Saturday, Jan. 30, Northwestern begins its title defense of the ITA National Indoor Team Championship when it faces No. 52 Old Dominion on ITA Kick-Off Weekend. Last year, NU enjoyed a thrilling run to the title in Madison, Wis., becoming the first northern school and just the sixth program in the 22-year history of the event to win the tournament. The winner of the match between the 'Cats and Monarchs will advance to face either No. 49 Denver or No. 44 Princeton on Sunday, Jan. 31, in a match that will decide which team moves on to the round of 16 in Madison.
