The No. 49 Northwestern men’s tennis team has one of its biggest opportunities of the year this weekend to prove itself as a top-tier team. But the Wildcats also face the prospect of fading into mediocrity.
The Cats will finally leave the friendly confines of the Combe Tennis Center, traveling to Seattle to take part in the Great Northwest Shootout, hosted by Washington. NU will face three ranked teams this weekend in the round-robin tournament, two of which are in the Top 25.
The team flew into Seattle on Wednesday night to get in a day of practice at the Nordstrom Tennis Center.
“It’s a great trip,” coach Paul Torricelli said. “We’re playing at a really good place, so there’s no reason in the world for it not to be positive.”
The Cats (5-1) will open the tournament with a dual meet against No. 24 Indiana State (3-3), which features three ranked singles players.
Saturday, NU’s competition lets up – but only slightly – when the Cats take the court against No. 55 Louisville (3-5).
In the Sunday finale, the Cats will meet their toughest competition of the weekend in No. 23 Washington, which boasts a perfect 5-0 record.
NU is coming off a 5-2 win over No. 75 Ball State. In the win, the Cats performed soundly during singles play but struggled in the doubles competition.
“We’ve worked on some fundamental things (in doubles), but you really don’t know until you go out and play,” Torricelli said. “I just hope our lack of sharp doubles last Saturday is enough to make a difference in the way we play this weekend.”
NU junior Jackie Jenkins added that the doubles point is especially crucial against highly ranked teams.
“We’ve dedicated these last three practice stages just to working on doubles,” Jenkins said. “Our doubles is our key. We think if we can get the doubles point we can hang with pretty much any team in the country.”
The Cats demonstrated their ability to hang around with the nation’s best two weeks ago against Notre Dame. After taking the doubles point, NU led briefly in singles before falling 5-2 to the No. 7 Fighting Irish.
“We want to beat Top-25 teams and be there ourselves, but it doesn’t happen by wishing,” Torricelli said. “We’ve got to transfer it to the court and make it happen.”
This weekend will provide NU with that opportunity, as the Cats try to improve upon their 0-1 mark against Top-25 competition.
The tournament also marks the first road trip of the season for the Cats.
“I think that travel is really good for a tennis team,” Torricelli said. “It’s a real way of bonding. It’s a very healthy thing.”
The trip to the Evergreen State has the players excited as well.
“When you’re on the road, you get really close,” senior Jamie Sahara said. “That’s good because then it’s your friend out there fighting for your match, and when it’s your friend on the court, you want to do well for him.”
The Cats may not be the favorite this weekend, but if they can capitalize on this opportunity, they may be a favorite in the future.
Jenkins was enthusiastic about the prospect.
“I’m expecting three wins,” Jenkins said. “I want us to be one of those top teams, instead of being a team trying to beat those top teams to get to the top.”
