With just three preseason tournaments this fall, every match counts for the Northwestern women’s tennis team.
“We don’t play a tremendous amount in the fall,” said coach Claire Pollard, whose team made it to the Sweet 16 last season. “And we don’t play the freshmen much so they can get adjusted. Any time they play it’s going to be important.
“How good you were in June doesn’t matter anymore.”
The Wildcats travel to Madison, Wis., today for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Qualifying. The individual tournament continues over the weekend with the main draw being played Saturday through Tuesday.
The winner and runner-up both advance to the National Indoor Championships in Dallas, held Nov. 8-11.
“(The tournament) has always been a big deal,” Pollard said. “But it’s no more important than anything else we’ve done.”
Lia Jackson, Marine Piriou and Simona Petrutiu are the top players returning for the Cats this season.
Jackson is ranked No. 34 in singles, rising from last year’s No. 58 ranking.
Pollard said the tournament is a chance for the team to get valuable experience.
“Everyone can do well relative to what they’re working toward,” Pollard said. “A lot is going to depend on the draw.”
The Cats have won the Big Ten title in each of the past three seasons and ended last season ranked No. 9 after going undefeated in the Big Ten.
NU fell to Southern California, 5-1, in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.
Pollard said the Cats’ lineup is not fixed for the spring. She added that November and December will be key months for the players and that the final lineup decision will come in January.
“Some (players) are going to be able to overtake others,” Pollard said. “A lot of things are going to change.
“I have too many good choices — that’s a nice problem to have.”
The Cats lost two key players to graduation last season, Colleen Cheng and Shannon Duffy. Cheng was NU’s No. 1 singles player.
But even without the players who combined for a 57-24 singles record during the 2001 season, Pollard isn’t worried.
“We’re going to be good,” Pollard said. “We’re not giving up the title while I’m the coach here.”
