Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Face Familiar Foe Saturday
3/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
March 8, 2012
No. 14 Northwestern (5-6, 0-0 Big Ten) at No. 45 Illinois (6-4, 0-0 Big Ten)
Saturday, March 10
Atkins Tennis Center
Urbana, Ill. • 5 p.m.
Live Stats: FightingIllini.com
EVANSTON, Ill. -- After opening the season with 11 grueling nonconference tussles, the 14th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats will open up the Big Ten portion of their schedule late Saturday afternoon when they take on instate rival Illinois at the Atkins Tennis Center in Urbana, Ill.
Battling the Best
Of Northwestern's eleven matches thus far in 2012, nine have come against teams listed in the top 25 of the Campbell/ITA team rankings. The Wildcats hosted No. 15 Vanderbilt to open the season on Jan. 19 and since Feb. 3 they have played eight straight contests against teams ranked 17th or higher.
Road Warriors
Two of NU's five wins thus far have come not only on the road, but also against top-10 opponents. The 'Cats knocked off then-No. 8 North Carolina, 4-3, in Chapel Hill on Feb. 3. One week later in the opening round of the ITA National Indoor Team Championships in Charlottesville, Va., Northwestern took down then-No. 9 Virginia, 4-2.
Topsy Turvy
For the first time in career, junior Kate Turvy has occupied the No. 1 slot in the singles lineup. The Ohio native is tied for the team lead with six singles win this season, five of which have come versus opponents in the top 50 of the Campbell/ITA singles rankings. Turvy, who was ranked 20th in the latest edition, defeated No. 9 Diana Nakic of Baylor last time out on March 4.
Three's Company
The latest ITA singles rankings were released on Feb. 28 and the list featured three Wildcats for the first time this season. Turvy is the highest-ranked 'Cat at No. 20, while classmate Brittany Wowchuk comes in at No. 51. Sophomore Belinda Niu made her 2012 debut in the rankings at No. 118. The next rankings are due to be released on March 13.
Double Up
Turvy and Niu have been inserted into the doubles lineup together six times this season by head coach Claire Pollard and each time the duo has earned a victory for Northwestern. When paired with anyone else on the roster, Turvy and Niu are winless in nine combined matches.
Poll Presence
The Wildcats are ranked 14th in this week's ITA poll. NU slid six spots in the rankings after tough losses last weekend against then-No. 9 Texas and then-No. 12 Baylor in the Lone Star State. Northwestern was ranked 12th to open the 2012 campaign.
Fresh Face
Veronica Corning transferred to Northwestern to begin the winter quarter and joined the squad immediately. The Massachusetts native spent her first year at Boston College, where she helped the Golden Eagles achieve their highest-ever ITA ranking (No. 33) and their best-ever finish in the ACC. The sophomore has three singles wins and two doubles victories for the Wildcats this season.
Scouting the Illini
Illinois enters the weekend with six wins, and like Northwestern, will be playing its first Big Ten match of the season on Saturday. As a team, the Illini are ranked 45th in the latest poll.
Allison Falkin is ranked 96th in the singles poll, while she and Rachael White are the 40th-ranked doubles team in the country.
Series History
Northwestern leads the all-time series between the two instate rivals, 44-7. The Wildcats have won 10 straight matches against Illinois dating back to April 4, 2005. Under Pollard, Northwestern is 17-3 versus the Illini.
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