'Cats Wrap up Wildcat Duals

1/17/2016 6:20:00 PM | Women's Tennis

Northwestern sweeps doubles matches from DePaul

By: Nick Brilowski

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern's women's tennis team won all three doubles matches and took four of six singles matches from DePaul on the final day of the Wildcat Duals on Sunday at Combe Tennis Center.

The Wildcats completed their final tuneup prior to next weekend's start of the dual match by posting their third solid performance in as many days. All three doubles teams were victorious even though NU's seventh-ranked duo of Alex Chatt and Maddie Lipp took the afternoon off. Alicia Barnett and Erin Larner were victorious by a 6-2 margin over DePaul's team of Patricia Lancranjan and Rebecca Mitrea. Meanwhile, the pairings of Brooke Rischbieth and Lee Or and the duo of Manon Peri and Jillian Rooney both posted 6-4 wins.

All four of Northwestern's singles victories were in straight sets. Rischbieth posted the most convincing victory of the day as she had little trouble with Jarret Fisher, winning 6-3, 6-0. Larner was virtually equally impressive as she rolled to a 6-3, 6-1 win over Rebeca Mitrea. Freshman Lee Or surrendered only five games herself in taking down Milica Tesic 6-3, 6-2.

Barnett had to work the hardest for her victory over Marina Cozac. After winnign her opening set 6-4, Barnett found herself down 5-2 in the second set. However, the senior rallied to win five consecutive games to take the match.

Northwestern nearly took all six singles matches on the afternoon, but Peri and Chatt were both edged in third-set superbreakers by Zaina Sufi and Yuliya Shupenia, respectively.

Lipp was recognized as the top singles player of the Wildcat Duals while the TCU team of Caroline Wegner and Seda Aranktekin was honored as the top doubles squad.

The Wildcats open their dual match season Saturday and Sunday when they travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for ITA Kickoff Weekend. NU opens up against Arizona State at 10 a.m. Saturday before facing either host Oklahoma State or Notre Dame on Sunday. The weekend's winner of two matches advances to the ITA Indoor Team National Championships Feb. 5-8 in Madison, Wisconsin.

Doubles
Alicia Barnett/Erin Larner (NU) def. Patricia Lancranjan/Rebecca Mitrea (DPU) 6-2
Brooke Rischbieth/Lee Or (NU) def. Jarret Fisher/Marina Cozac (DPU) 6-4
Manon Peri/Jillian Rooney (NU) def. Milica Tesic/Zaina Sufi (DPU) 6-4

Singles
Yuliya Shupenia (DPU) def. Alex Chatt (NU) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (7)
Alicia Barnett (NU) def. Marina Cozac (DPU) 6-4, 7-5
Erin Larner (NU) def. Rebeca Mitrea (DPU) 6-3, 6-1
Zaina Sufi (DPU) def. Manon Peri (NU) 4-6, 6-2, 1-0 (4)
Brooke Rischbieth (NU) def. Jarret Fisher (DPU) 6-3, 6-0
Lee Or (NU) def. Milica Tesic (DPU) 6-3, 6-2