Friday, January 27
Charlottesville, VA
5 PM CT

Northwestern

2
vs
4

South Carolina

Justine Leong
Photo by: Joshua Sukoff/Northwestern Athletics

Wildcats Earn Split At ITA Kickoff, Return Home To Battle Georgia Tech

2/1/2023 3:00:00 PM | Women's Tennis

EVANSTON, Ill. (February 1, 2023) – Coming off back-to-back matches on the road, Northwestern women's tennis (3-2) returns to the friendly confines of the Combe Tennis Center on Sunday at 12 p.m. to play host to Georgia Tech.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Northwestern split a pair of matches as part of ITA Kickoff Weekend in Charlottesville, Va. The 'Cats opened the event with a 4-2 setback against South Carolina on Friday evening.  The pairings of Justine Leong and Christina Hand (6-2) and Kiley Rabjohns and Maria Shusharina (7-5) each were victorious to secure the doubles point for the Wildcats, while Leong added a tally during singles, defeating Ana Cruz (6-2, 6-0) in straight sets.
 
In Saturday's consolation-round tilt with Washington State, the 'Cats fell into an early 1-0 hole after surrendering the doubles point, but bounced back to win four singles matchups en route to a 4-1 triumph.  Rabjohns and Shusharina closed out a 2-0 weekend in doubles with a 6-3 victory.  Leong (6-4, 6-2) wrapped up an unblemished singles weekend, while Hand (6-2, 6-2), Rabjohns (6-4, 6-0) and Briana Crowley (6-7, 6-2, 6-2) also added wins for Northwestern.


 
LOOKING AHEAD
Georgia Tech currently sits at 2-1 on the young season.  The Yellow Jackets, who opened the season ranked No. 25 in the ITA Collegiate Rankings, are one of five unranked teams receiving votes in the national poll. 
 
Like Northwestern, Georgia Tech finished ITA Kickoff Weekend at 1-1, falling to San Diego, 4-1, before blanking Princeton, 4-0.
 
On the individual front, Carol Lee, who holds a spotless 2-0 record this season in singles action, is ranked 10th nationally.  Lee is one of four Yellow Jackets appearing in the ITA's Individual Rankings.

Team Stats

#1 Doubles Match

1
2
Ayana Akli/ Gracie Mulville [SC]
6

#2 Doubles Match

1
6
Allie Gretkowski/ Ana Cruz [SC]
2

#3 Doubles Match

1
7
Elise Mills/ Alice Otis [SC]
5

Order of Finish:

1,2,3

#1 Singles Match

1234
LogoShusharina, Maria / 0 [NUW]
0720
Ayana Akli / 0 (20/-) [SC]
654UF

#2 Singles Match

123
LogoPratt, Sydney / 0 [NUW]
363
Gracie Mulville / 0 [SC]
636

#3 Singles Match

12
LogoHand, Christina / 0 (54/-) [NUW]
64
Elise Mills / 0 [SC]
76

#4 Singles Match

12
LogoLeong, Justine / 0 [NUW]
66
Ana Cruz / 0 [SC]
20

#5 Singles Match

12
LogoCrowley, Briana / 0 [NUW]
31
Misa Malkin / 0 [SC]
66

#6 Singles Match

12
LogoRabjohns, Kiley / 0 [NUW]
33
Alice Otis / 0 [SC]
66

Order of Finish:

5,6,4,3,2

Players Mentioned

/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
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