Sunday, April 8
Ann Arbor, Mich.
11 a.m.
Northwestern
4
at
3
Michigan
Chatt's Heroics Deliver Wildcats Into Big Ten Lead
4/8/2018 4:02:00 PM | Women's Tennis
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Senior Alex Chatt's third-set heroics propelled the 13th-ranked Northwestern women's tennis team to a dramatic 4-3 road win over No. 24 Michigan Sunday afternoon.
Chatt rallied from a set down and overcame multiple match points in the decisive third set before eventually pulling out a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory at No. 6 singles in a matchup of two teams that entered the match undefeated in Big Ten play.
The win improves the Wildcats to 15-4 overall and 7-0 in the Big Ten while Michigan saw its seven-match winning streak come to an end.
Northwestern got off to a roaring start by taking the always-important doubles point. At No. 1, the fourth-ranked team of Erin Larner and Maddie Lipp were dominant against Brienne Minor and Kate Fahey, rolling to a 6-1 win. Michigan picked up a win at No. 3, but the 28th-ranked duo of Chatt and Lee Or rallied back from an early deficit to earn a 6-3 victory and put NU up 1-0 in the match.
As is typically the case when the teams square off, the matchup ultimately went right down to the wire. Michigan evened the match with a win at No. 2, but wins by Inci Ogut (6-3, 6-2) at No. 5 and 49th-ranked Larner at No. 1 (6-4, 6-3) over 29th-ranked Kate Fahey got the Wildcats within one win of taking the match.
It wouldn't be easy, however, as the Wolverines pulled even thanks to victories at Nos. 4 and 3. The results left the contest to be decided by a matchup between a pair of seniors at No. 6 between Chatt and Mira Ruder-Hook.
Ruder-Hook took the first set (7-5), before Chatt took the second (6-3), setting up a third set to determine the front-runner in the chase for the Big Ten regular-season title. Both players managed to hold serve until Chatt found herself in a precarious position. Trailing 4-5 and down 15-40, Chatt fought off three match points to hold and keep the match going.
The matchup eventually went to a tiebreak where Chatt won the first two points. Leading 4-2 when the players traded sides, Chatt won one more point to go up 5-2 before eventually sealing the win with a backhand down the line, setting off a well-earned celebration.
With four matches remaining in the regular season, Northwestern returns to action at 11 a.m. Saturday when it hosts Wisconsin.
#13 Northwestern 4, #24 Michigan 3
Doubles
1. # 4 Erin Larner/Maddie Lipp (NU) def. Brienne Minor/Kate Fahey (U-M), 6-1
2. #28 Lee Or/Alex Chatt (NU) def. Chiara Lommer/Lera Patiuk (U-M), 6-3
3. Alyvia Jones/Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M) def. Julie Byrne/Rheeya Doshi (NU), 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2*
Singles
1. #49 Erin Larner (NU) def. #29 Kate Fahey (U-M), 6-4, 6-3
2. Brienne Minor (U-M) def. #105 Lee Or (NU), 6-3, 7-5
3. # 95 Chiara Lommer (U-M) def. #70 Maddie Lipp (NU), 6-3, 7-5
4. Alyvia Jones (U-M) def. Julie Byrne (NU), 6-4, 6-3
5. Inci Ogut (NU) def. Lera Patiuk (U-M), 6-3, 6-2
6. Alex Chatt (NU) def. Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M), 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Order of finish: 2, 5, 1, 4, 3, 6*
Chatt rallied from a set down and overcame multiple match points in the decisive third set before eventually pulling out a 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory at No. 6 singles in a matchup of two teams that entered the match undefeated in Big Ten play.
The win improves the Wildcats to 15-4 overall and 7-0 in the Big Ten while Michigan saw its seven-match winning streak come to an end.
Northwestern got off to a roaring start by taking the always-important doubles point. At No. 1, the fourth-ranked team of Erin Larner and Maddie Lipp were dominant against Brienne Minor and Kate Fahey, rolling to a 6-1 win. Michigan picked up a win at No. 3, but the 28th-ranked duo of Chatt and Lee Or rallied back from an early deficit to earn a 6-3 victory and put NU up 1-0 in the match.
As is typically the case when the teams square off, the matchup ultimately went right down to the wire. Michigan evened the match with a win at No. 2, but wins by Inci Ogut (6-3, 6-2) at No. 5 and 49th-ranked Larner at No. 1 (6-4, 6-3) over 29th-ranked Kate Fahey got the Wildcats within one win of taking the match.
It wouldn't be easy, however, as the Wolverines pulled even thanks to victories at Nos. 4 and 3. The results left the contest to be decided by a matchup between a pair of seniors at No. 6 between Chatt and Mira Ruder-Hook.
Ruder-Hook took the first set (7-5), before Chatt took the second (6-3), setting up a third set to determine the front-runner in the chase for the Big Ten regular-season title. Both players managed to hold serve until Chatt found herself in a precarious position. Trailing 4-5 and down 15-40, Chatt fought off three match points to hold and keep the match going.
The matchup eventually went to a tiebreak where Chatt won the first two points. Leading 4-2 when the players traded sides, Chatt won one more point to go up 5-2 before eventually sealing the win with a backhand down the line, setting off a well-earned celebration.
With four matches remaining in the regular season, Northwestern returns to action at 11 a.m. Saturday when it hosts Wisconsin.
#13 Northwestern 4, #24 Michigan 3
Doubles
1. # 4 Erin Larner/Maddie Lipp (NU) def. Brienne Minor/Kate Fahey (U-M), 6-1
2. #28 Lee Or/Alex Chatt (NU) def. Chiara Lommer/Lera Patiuk (U-M), 6-3
3. Alyvia Jones/Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M) def. Julie Byrne/Rheeya Doshi (NU), 6-3
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2*
Singles
1. #49 Erin Larner (NU) def. #29 Kate Fahey (U-M), 6-4, 6-3
2. Brienne Minor (U-M) def. #105 Lee Or (NU), 6-3, 7-5
3. # 95 Chiara Lommer (U-M) def. #70 Maddie Lipp (NU), 6-3, 7-5
4. Alyvia Jones (U-M) def. Julie Byrne (NU), 6-4, 6-3
5. Inci Ogut (NU) def. Lera Patiuk (U-M), 6-3, 6-2
6. Alex Chatt (NU) def. Mira Ruder-Hook (U-M), 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (4)
Order of finish: 2, 5, 1, 4, 3, 6*
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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