Northwestern University Athletics
Wildcats Wrap Up Regular Season on the Road
4/18/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
April 18, 2014
#13 Northwestern (14-6, 8-1) at Wisconsin (7-10, 2-7)
Saturday, April 19, 2014 • 11 a.m.
Nielsen Tennis Stadium
Madison, Wis.
#13 Northwestern (14-6, 8-1) at #59 Minnesota (16-6, 6-3)
Sunday, April 20, 2014 • 12 p.m.
Baseline Tennis Center
Minneapolis, Minn.
EVANSTON, Ill. - The 13th-ranked Northwestern women's tennis team looks to increase its conference win total to 10 after a couple of weekend road matches. The Wildcats travel to Madison to take on the Wisconsin at 11 a.m. Saturday before heading to Minneapolis to meet Minnesota at noon Sunday.
The `Cats cruised to a pair of conference victories last weekend, dismantling Nebraska 7-0 before beating the Iowa Hawkeyes on NU's Senior Day, 5-2. Belinda Niu and Nida Hamilton ended their home regular-season careers with straight set wins against Iowa.
Alicia Barnett will look to complete an undefeated season in Big Ten play. Barnett is 8-0 in the conference and has won five matches in a row coming into the weekend. Niu leads the team with 13 wins, including a 7-1 mark in conference play. Hamilton has anchored the back-end of the singles lineup, combining for a 10-1 record in the four, five and six spots.
Veronica Corning and Niu have been constants in the national rankings for NU. Corning is listed at No. 38 in the most recent ITA poll, while Niu comes in at 43rd. Corning also teams up with Barnett to make up the 28th-ranked doubles team in the country.
Wisconsin has struggled to a 7-10 record in 2014, including a 2-7 mark in the Big Ten. The Badgers are 1-7 against ranked opponents this season. Northwestern will be the highest-ranked team Wisconsin has faced. The Badgers are currently in the midst of a six-match losing streak, dating back to March 28.
The Badgers have no nationally-ranked players on their squad. Lauren Chypyha has been good for Wisconsin in the No. 1 singles spot, compiling a 13-4 record. Anastasia Tripolskay has put together an identical mark in the third spot. Wisconsin has struggled in the second singles position, combining for a 7-10 mark.
Northwestern has dominated Wisconsin in the all-time series, leading 46-15. NU has won six of the last seven meetings by a 7-0 score, including last season's match in Evanston.
Minnesota is 16-6 overall this season and 6-3 in the Big Ten. The Gophers were recently on the road in Michigan, losing to the conference-leading Wolverines, 7-0. Minnesota has traded wins and losses in their last six matches but has won nine of their last 12 overall.
The Golden Gophers are ranked 59th nationally but have no individually ranked players. Minnesota has received a lot of success at the back-end of their singles lineup. Julia Courter is 16-5 in 2014, including a 15-4 mark in the fourth spot. Aria Lambert has played at both Nos. 5 and 6 and put together a 15-5 season.
The Wildcats have enjoyed tremendous success all-time against Minnesota. NU leads the series 36-5, including last season's 7-0 shutout in Evanston.
