In facing its toughest opponent of the season in its biggest game of the year, the Northwestern women’s tennis team saw the opportunity to rise to the occasion
The problem was that No. 1 Stanford didn’t look past the No. 14 Wildcats and controlled, dominated and defeated the Cats 5-1 Thursday in the NCAA tournament’s round of 16 in Malibu, Calif.
The Cardinal’s depth and experience combined to end a successful season for the Cats (24-5), which included a No. 10 ranking, a Big Ten championship and a berth in the NCAA regionals.
“It was important for the kids to be exposed to this,” Pollard said. “It was a tremendous season and it is a great honor to be in the final 16.”
NU never led in the match as Stanford’s budding professionals — Marissa Irvin and Laura Granville — showed their worth with fast wins that set the tone of the match.
Irvin, the No. 1 player in the nation, defeated senior Katherine Nasser 6-2, 6-2 and Granville, No. 3 in the nation, beat junior Shannon Duffy 6-2, 6-0.
“(Irvin’s) a great player. We had some close games and the match was closer than 6-2, 6-2. She came up with some big shots,” Nasser said.
Added Pollard: “(Irvin and Granville) are both exceptional players, about as good a 1-2 punch in college tennis.”
Stanford (28-0) won at No. 6 singles to take a 3-0 lead. The Cats’ lone bright spot came at No. 3 singles, where Colleen Cheng trailed 4-1 in the first set before winning 11 of the next 13 games to win 6-4, 6-2 over Teryn Ashley.
“I didn’t want to lose quickly,” Cheng said. “I just wanted to win some games and ended up winning the set. Then I just got more and more confident.”
At No. 4 singles, Lia Jackson’s 10-match winning streak came to an end when she lost 6-4, 6-1 to Stanford’s Lauren Kalvaria — the No. 9 player in the nation.
With four matches left and two in progress, the No. 5 singles match entered a third set, the No. 1 doubles match began and the Cats needed to win all four remaining matches to have a shot at victory.
But Stanford’s doubles pair of Ashley and Irvin, ranked No. 4 nationally, ended any suspense by routing 8-0 NU’s best team of Nasser and Cheng.
Even so, Nasser and Cheng will stay in Malibu to compete in next week’s NCAA singles and doubles tournaments.
“We got a lesson handed to us at No. 1 doubles. It showed we are one of the best 32 in the nation but not in the top 5,” Pollard said.
Last year NU lost 7-2 to Stanford and was confident that it would be victorious this time around. However, up close the Cats recognized that Stanford remains in a higher tier.
“They have no holes and you have to be at your best when you play them,” Pollard said. “They are a much better team this year. Last year they surprised people by winning. But this year they are the overwhelming favorites.”
The Cats said they prepared well for the match and kept things as close as possible against Stanford. After the match, the team’s players said they were proud of their effort and competitiveness on the court.
“(Stanford’s) coaches congratulated us after for competing valiantly,” Pollard said. “We are making a good name for ourselves as a good program and teams know that you have to beat us and that is a reputation I like.”
The loss brings the season to the end but it will not put a damper on the Cats’ accomplishments.
“It has been the best season I’ve had here,” Nasser said. “We had a good time out there today as Colleen and I were down 7-0 but we were out there laughing and enjoying the experience and being in Malibu. I’ll remember it as a great year.”
NU will depart on Sunday but while in Malibu it will continue to follow the tournament and expects to see Stanford win the title again.
“(I’ll be) shocked if they don’t win it,” Pollard said. “Shocked.”
