Northwestern Starts Fast at Wildcat Invite

9/25/2015 8:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

By: Nick Brilowski

Wildcat Invite Draws (PDF)

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's women's tennis team got off to a good start on its first day of competition of the fall season at its own Wildcat Invite at Vandy Christie Tennis Center.

The Wildcats won all of their matches on the day that were played to completion. In singles play, sophomore Alex Chatt and freshman Lee Or each won twice in singles play, while junior Jillian Rooney and redshirt sophomore Maddie Lipp both lone their lone match of the day.

Chatt was pushed by Pittsburgh's Lolade Ogungbesan in her opening match of the day before pulling out a narrow 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 victory. She then went on to defeat LSU's Ryann Foster 6-3, 6-2 in her next match to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Purple draw. Lipp received an opening round bye before going three sets in her first match of the day as well, knocking off Michigan State's Davina Nguyen 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

On the other half of the draw, Or won her debut as a Wildcat as she defeated Eastern Michigan's Andrea Martinovska 6-3, 7-6. The freshman moved on to the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over Audrey Ann Blakely of Pittsburgh.

In the White draw, Rooney received an opening round bye before being pushed to the limit by Eastern Michigan's Anna Veleva. Rooney won the match in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (1) to move into the quarterfinals.

Northwestern's lone defeat on the day came when Alicia Barnett was forced to retire in her opening set with LSU's Skylar Holloway.

The Wildcats won their only doubles match to take place on Friday as the team of Rooney and Brooke Rischbieth got by LSU's Skylar Kuykendall and Abby Owens, 8-6.

Action at the Wildcat Invite is set to resume at 9 a.m. Saturday beginning with doubles play.