Although Northwestern senior Lia Jackson is entering her last NCAA tournament as a member of the Wildcats women’s tennis team, she’s treating this weekend’s matches like any other in her illustrious career.
“Any tennis situation I’m in, I want to make the most of it,” said Jackson, NU’s No. 2 singles player. “I plan on continuing to play tennis after college, so it’s not a total ending for me. I think parting with Northwestern is just moving on to a new part of my life. It’s sad, but I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here.”
The No. 15 Cats will host a four-team NCAA regional this weekend. Saturday’s match against Illinois-Chicago marks the beginning of their quest to surpass last season’s Sweet 16 appearance.
Jackson came to NU four years ago, which coincided with Claire Pollard taking over the team’s head coaching job. Since then, the Cats have won four Big Ten titles and will host the first and second rounds for the second straight year.
“We’re definitely excited to be hosting, but I think it’s something where if we weren’t, it would be a bigger deal,” Pollard said. “Now it’s more of an expectation, so we’re becoming more comfortable and getting what we deserve.”
Jackson said the team is still glad to play in front of a home crowd at Vandy Christie Tennis Center.
“We’ll have a lot of fans out, and hopefully it’ll be a beautiful weekend,” she said. “We’re in the NCAAs and we’re hosting, so it couldn’t be a better situation.”
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Pollard said she will continue to play the doubles team of Jackson and fellow senior Simona Petrutiu at No. 1, with Marine Piriou and Jessica Rush at No. 2. Neither team was selected to play in the NCAA doubles tournament, though Piriou and Rush were selected as alternates.
“I’m going with (Jackson and Petrutiu) not because I feel they’re better, because I think they’re equally good,” Pollard said. “They’re disappointed about not making NCAAs, and this is a way I can ease that. It’s just more motivation for them in the tournament.”
Piriou was the lone NU player chosen for the singles competition, to be held May 22-25.
GATOR COUNTRY: If NU advances past the first two rounds, it will probably meet a formidable foe, No. 1 seed Florida, in the Sweet 16. The Gators (19-1) will host Central Florida and either Miami or Florida International in the first two rounds. Florida, which features the country’s No. 1 player in Jessica Lehnoff, has hosted a regional the past four years and won the national title in 1998.
Jackson said the Cats are trying not to look ahead to the Gators.
“They’re definitely in the back of our minds,” Jackson said. “We want to achieve some of our goals, but we’re focusing on this weekend and getting ready for the Flames and then either Notre Dame or Wisconsin.”
FAB FIVE: NU joins four other Big Ten teams in the tournament, down from last season’s six berths. Indiana, Ohio State and Michigan were selected in addition to the Badgers.
The No. 34 Wolverines might have the best shot to advance past regionals. They face Georgia Tech in the first round, and a win would set up a meeting with No. 14 Kentucky on Saturday.
“I’m pleased for the league,” Pollard said of the conference’s five selections. “I thought Michigan was playing really good tennis at the end of the season.”
