The Oral Roberts women’s tennis team had a banner year, winning the Mid-Continent tournament with crucial wins over Western Illinois, Southern Utah, Youngstown State and Oakland (Mich.).
However, all of Oral Roberts’ (9-5) regular season and postseason accolades mean nothing to its first-round opponent in the NCAA tournament — No. 17 Northwestern (22-4).
The Wildcats had no knowledge of the Golden Eagles’ undefeated conference record or second trip in a row to the NCAAs. In fact, the Cats literally did not know Oral Roberts existed before the draw was released.
When NU’s regional was released, there was the exhilaration of “Northwestern” appearing on the television screen, and then the team had a collective pause as it pondered “Oral Roberts.”
“Our first thoughts were, ‘Where is this school and who is the man?'” junior Shannon Duffy said.
None of the players knew anything about the university, including its Tulsa location. Since Tulsa hosts the four-team regional, Oral Roberts will have the element of surprise and a hometown crowd to combat the favored Cats.
But those might be the Golden Eagles only advantages — the Cats’ lowest ranking of the season was No. 20 while the Golden Eagles have failed to crack the top 75.
Last year’s tournament experience was a rough lesson for the Golden Eagles after losing in the first round to Duke 5-0 and by a combined game score of 60-2. The Cats defeated Illinois in the first round before losing to Arizona State 5-2 in the second round.
“We are disappointed not to be playing at home,” coach Claire Pollard said. “This particular year our draw is a little easier.”
Duffy said she was shocked and impressed that a small school such as Oral Roberts fielded an NCAA-bound women’s tennis team.
“This is possibly one of the best first rounds available and on paper we are supposed to win,” Duffy said.
CONFIDENCE BUILDING: All year long NU has emphasized strong doubles play in order to win the crucial doubles point and build momentum heading into singles.
In postseason play, doubles is worth three of the total nine points and will follow the six singles matches, if necessary. Now the Cats are concentrating on pressure situations in doubles.
“We are a better singles team than doubles, and when things go wrong we can’t cave in but (instead must) ride out the storm,” said Pollard, referring to the No. 1 doubles comeback win against Illinois during the Big Ten tournament.
The No. 1 tandem of Katherine Nasser and Colleen Cheng was selected to the NCAA doubles tournament, an elite field of 32 played after the team tournament.
“We are deserving of a bid because we put ourselves on the line with our schedule,” Pollard said. “I think on any given day we can play with anyone.”
Lia Jackson and Marine Piriou have made great strides at No. 2 doubles since the beginning of the year, including a 3-0 run at the Big Ten tournament. They enter the NCAAs having won six of seven matches since Piriou’s return.
No. 3 doubles Leigh Weinraub and Duffy have had some recent unexpected losses, but Pollard still describes them as “the best combination.”
“This weekend I predict six victories,” Duffy said.
DOWN SOUTH: The players are anxious for their trip to Tulsa mainly because of the friendly draw, the postseason excitement and visiting a new city.
In particular, Duffy, a native of Texas, expects family members will make the five-and -a-half-hour trip to show support and hopefully provide the team with a celebratory barbecue.
However, the team will not have much time to explore the city. On this road trip, NU will have the narrow focus of returning to Evanston victorious and still alive in the tournament.
“It’s one of those trips where we have a job to do and have to be very focused,” Pollard said. “For the kids, the reward is getting to Pepperdine (site of the Sweet 16).”
