EVANSTON, Ill. (March 8, 2023) – After picking up a win on the road in its Big Ten Conference opener, No. 72 Northwestern women's tennis (5-7, 1-0 B1G) returns to the Combe Tennis Center courts on Friday at 5 p.m. to entertain in-state rival No. 28 Illinois.
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LAST TIME OUT
Following a 4-1 setback to No. 17 Kansas this past Friday, Northwestern jumped out to an early advantage on the road against No. 72 Indiana and never looked back, picking up a 5-2 win over the Hoosiers on Sunday in Bloomington, Ind.
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The 'Cats got off to a great start in doubles, with the pairings of Christina Hand and Briana Crowley (6-1) and Justine Leong and Sydney Pratt (6-3) each cruising to victory to give Northwestern an early 1-0 edge.
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Kiley Rabjohns (6-1, 6-0) and Hand (6-0, 6-3) notched comfortable wins in straight sets to begin singles action, pushing the margin to 3-0. After seeing the hosts close the gap to 3-2, Crowley rallied back from a first-set defeat to earn a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win, while Jennifer Riester closed the day out with her first collegiate victory, battling to a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) triumph.
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Sunday's win over Indiana saw the 'Cats extend their win streak in Big Ten Conference openers to 25 matches.
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RANKINGS UPDATE
Northwestern finds itself ranked No. 72 in the NCAA Division I Women's Team Rankings, which were released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Tuesday.
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In the individual poll, Hand, who has won two of her last three matches, came in at No. 103 and also appears in the doubles rankings, alongside Leong, at No. 41.
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LOOKING AHEAD
Illinois, which will be in action for the first time since February 25 on Friday, enters the week at 8-4 overall. Currently sitting at No. 28 in the ITA Team Rankings, the Fighting Illini also hold a 1-0 mark in Big Ten Conference play following a 4-0 win over Penn State back on February 19.
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Like Northwestern, Illinois is represented in both the singles and doubles national polls. Ashley Yeah, who owns a 5-4 record in dual action, resides at No. 100, while the pairing of Katherine Duong and Megan Heuser has raced out to a 7-1 start on the year en route to climbing to 30th nationally.
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In 65 previous meetings between the two programs, Northwestern holds an 55-10 (.846) lead in the all-time series. Illinois trimmed into the that gap last season, dealing the 'Cats a 4-3 setback at the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, Ill.
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LAST TIME OUT
Following a 4-1 setback to No. 17 Kansas this past Friday, Northwestern jumped out to an early advantage on the road against No. 72 Indiana and never looked back, picking up a 5-2 win over the Hoosiers on Sunday in Bloomington, Ind.
Â
The 'Cats got off to a great start in doubles, with the pairings of Christina Hand and Briana Crowley (6-1) and Justine Leong and Sydney Pratt (6-3) each cruising to victory to give Northwestern an early 1-0 edge.
Â
Kiley Rabjohns (6-1, 6-0) and Hand (6-0, 6-3) notched comfortable wins in straight sets to begin singles action, pushing the margin to 3-0. After seeing the hosts close the gap to 3-2, Crowley rallied back from a first-set defeat to earn a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win, while Jennifer Riester closed the day out with her first collegiate victory, battling to a 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7-1) triumph.
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Sunday's win over Indiana saw the 'Cats extend their win streak in Big Ten Conference openers to 25 matches.
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Gallery: (3-3-2023) Women's Tennis vs Kansas
RANKINGS UPDATE
Northwestern finds itself ranked No. 72 in the NCAA Division I Women's Team Rankings, which were released by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) on Tuesday.
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In the individual poll, Hand, who has won two of her last three matches, came in at No. 103 and also appears in the doubles rankings, alongside Leong, at No. 41.
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?? are back in the @ITA_Tennis Rankings! #GoCats pic.twitter.com/PDiIbw3quk
— NU Women's Tennis (@NUWildcatTennis) March 7, 2023
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LOOKING AHEAD
Illinois, which will be in action for the first time since February 25 on Friday, enters the week at 8-4 overall. Currently sitting at No. 28 in the ITA Team Rankings, the Fighting Illini also hold a 1-0 mark in Big Ten Conference play following a 4-0 win over Penn State back on February 19.
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Like Northwestern, Illinois is represented in both the singles and doubles national polls. Ashley Yeah, who owns a 5-4 record in dual action, resides at No. 100, while the pairing of Katherine Duong and Megan Heuser has raced out to a 7-1 start on the year en route to climbing to 30th nationally.
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In 65 previous meetings between the two programs, Northwestern holds an 55-10 (.846) lead in the all-time series. Illinois trimmed into the that gap last season, dealing the 'Cats a 4-3 setback at the Atkins Tennis Center in Champaign, Ill.