March 30, 2008

Results

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Top-ranked Northwestern continued its tremendous play in Big Ten competition, defeating 70th-ranked Illinois, 7-0. With their 11th-consecutive victory, the Wildcats improve to 17-1 this season and remain atop the Big Ten standings at 5-0.

The 'Cats swept the doubles point by winning at all three courts to go up 1-0 for the match. At No. 2, Suzie Matzenauer (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine) and Samantha Murray (Altrincham, England/Altrincham Grammar) finished quickly and won in dominating fashion, 8-1. Alexis Conill (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) and Maria Mosolova (Moscow, Russia/No. 204) were the next to finish in an 8-4 victory at No. 3, locking up the doubles point.

Northwestern secured the sweep at No. 1, where 28th-ranked Georgia Rose (Mettawa, Ill./North Shore Country Day) and Lauren Lui (Houston, Texas/Kinkaid) were winners, 8-6.

The Wildcats took a 2-0 match advantage when Samantha Murray won her dual singles at No. 3, 6-2, 6-3. Matzenauer has clearly rebounded from her struggles last week, dominating at No. 6 on Sunday, 6-3, 6-3, and giving the 'Cats a 3-0 lead.

Northwestern secured the match victory by going up 4-0 at No. 5 when Nazlie Ghazal (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) continued her winning pace 6-1, 6-4. Fifth-ranked Georgia Rose enjoyed her opportunity to compete again at the No. 1 position and did so in top-fashion, handedly defeating her opponent 6-3, 6-2.

In one of the day's most exciting matches, third-ranked Maria Mosolova improved to a team-best 27-4 overall this year after her 7-5, 6-4 victory at No. 2. With the 'Cats already holding on to a 6-0 advantage, Lauren Lui sparked the sweep at No. 4 with her impressive 6-2, 6-4 victory. Lui remains undefeated from that position this season.

Northwestern returns to Evanston to host a pair of Big Ten dual matches next weekend. The Wildcats welcome 31st-ranked Ohio State to the Combe Tennis Center at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 5, before hosting 25th-ranked Indiana at 11 a.m. Sunday, April 6. Sunday's action with Indiana is slated to be featured on the Big Ten Network.

Singles

1. Georgia Rose (NU) def. Megan Fudge (ILL) 6-3, 6-2

2. Maria Mosolova (NU) def. Leigh Finnegan (ILL) 7-5, 6-4

3. Samantha Murray (NU) def. Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 6-2, 6-3

4. Lauren Lui (NU) def. Shivani Dave (ILL) 6-2, 6-4

5. Nazlie Ghazal (NU) def. Momei Qu (ILL) 6-1, 6-4

6. Suzie Matzenauer (NU) def. Kristina Minor (ILL) 6-3, 6-3

Doubles

1. Georgia Rose/Lauren Lui (NU) def. Megan Fudge/Shivani Dave (ILL) 8-6

2. Suzie Matzenauer/Samantha Murray (NU) def. Leigh Finnegan/Marisa Lambropoulos (ILL) 8-1

3. Alexis Conill/Maria Mosolova (NU) def. Annie McCarthy/Kristina Minor (ILL) 8-4

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (2,3,1); Singles (3,6,5,1,2,4)

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