University of Washington
Northwestern
#10 Northwestern Upsets #4 Husky Women, 4-3
February 28, 2004 | Women's Tennis
Feb. 28, 2004
EVANSTON, Illinois - The fourth-ranked Washington women's tennis team tasted defeat for only the second time this year, falling 4-3 to tenth-ranked Northwestern on the road at Combe Tennis Center. The Huskies (8-2) split the singles matches with the Wildcats (8-3) but lost the doubles point for the fourth time in the past five matches and that proved to be the difference in the upset loss.
Ever since an injury to junior Mugette Ahn who had been anchoring the sixth singles spot and finding success at No. 2 doubles as well, the Huskies have struggled in both those areas, losing the last four No. 6 singles matches in addition to their doubles dilemma. UW put up a strong fight but could not overcome the 'Cats after they opened up a 2-0 lead with the doubles win and early victory at the six singles spot.
Senior Erin Hoe (Mililani, Hawaii) pulled the Huskies within one when she achieved her fourth consecutive straight-set win at No. 3 singles, defeating Isabel Jarosz 6-2, 6-4. But Northwestern regained their two-point margin when third-ranked Cristelle Grier downed UW's Claire Carter (Nottingham, England) at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-4.
Northwestern solidified the upset at fourth singles where Jamie Peisel topped sophomore Dinka Hadzic (Split, Croatia), 6-2, 7-6 (4). Playing for pride, the remaining Husky women did not decrease their intensity and won the final two matches to bring the score to 4-3. 23rd-ranked junior Dea Sumantri (Jakarta, Indonesia) remained unbeaten in dual play (9-0) with a 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-7) win at No. 2 singles over 67th-ranked Jessica Rush. UW freshman Saskia Nauenberg (Santa Cruz, Calif.) also showed impressive poise in enemy territory as she picked up a three-set win at fifth singles over Ruth Barnes.
The Huskies were swept in doubles play to start the match. The Wildcats boast one of the nation's top teams in Grier and Rush. The third-ranked pair defeated UW's 19th-ranked tandem of Carter and Sumantri, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles.
The women return home to Seattle next weekend for a string of three matches. UW faces #64 San Diego on Friday, March 5 at 3 p.m., #34 San Diego State on Saturday, March 6 at 3 p.m., and then the rival Washington State Cougars, ranked 63rd, on Sunday, March 7 at noon. All matches will be at the Bill Quillian Stadium on the UW campus.
Washington Women's Tennis vs. Northwestern
February 28, 2004 - Combe Tennis Center - Evanston, Illinois
No. 10 Northwestern 4, No. 4 Washington 3
Doubles
1. (3) Grier/Rush (NU) def. (19) Carter/Sumantri (UW) 8-4
2. Prousis/Peisel (NU) def. Hadzic/Nauenberg (UW) 8-2
3. Yung/Barnes (NU) def. Hoe/Kolbovic (UW) 8-7 (1)
Singles
1. (3) Cristelle Grier (NU) def. (25) Claire Carter (UW) 6-2, 6-4
2. (23) Dea Sumantri (UW) def. (67) Jessica Rush (NU) 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (7)
3. Erin Hoe (UW) def. Alexis Prousis (NU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Jamie Peisel (NU) def. Dinka Hadzic (UW) 6-2, 7-6 (4)
5. Saskia Nauenberg (UW) def. Ruth Barnes (NU) 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
6. Connie Chiang (NU) def. Monika Kolbovic (UW) 6-1, 6-2
