To come out on top in a close match, a team needs to fire every weapon it has.

With returning Big Ten Player of the Year Marine Piriou sitting out, the No. 12 Northwestern women’s tennis team found this out the hard way, losing 4-3 to No. 21 Washington on Saturday at the Loyd Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle.

NU coach Claire Pollard said she did not consider the match an upset, given that NU’s No. 12 ranking was based on its preseason line-up.

“You don’t lose the No. 18 player in the nation and remain the same team you were,” Pollard said. “We’re just not the No. 12 team in the nation yet.”

The Wildcats (2-2) split the six singles matches with Washington (2-0), and it was the doubles point that gave the Huskies the victory.

Freshman Cristelle Grier, No. 16 in the nation and undefeated in singles play on the season, beat her Washington opponent, No. 80 Claire Carter, 6-4, 7-6. Sophomore Andrea Yung and junior Stacy Kokx also won their matches in straight sets.

In the doubles competition, Yung and junior Ruth Barnes were the only NU combination able to win their match.

“I think the doubles point definitely gave Washington an advantage over us,” Rush said. “We played a close doubles point, one that could have gone either way. That was pretty much the deciding factor.”

Pollard said the team was disappointed after the loss, but its confidence was not shaken.

“It’s like going to a funeral,” Pollard said, describing the scene in the locker room after the match. “You accept that the other team played better than you, you shake their hands and you give them credit, but I don’t think you beat yourself up about it.”

Pollard said she saw many encouraging things from her team’s effort.

“I think the highlight is really Stacy Kokx stepping in and beating a very good player,” Pollard said.

After the tough loss to Washington on Saturday, the Wildcats swept a much weaker Portland team 7-0 on Sunday. Portland (1-2) could not challenge the Cats at any level. Each NU player beat her Portland opponent in straight sets, and none lost more than two games.

“We were a little angry having lost to Washington, and we kind of took that out on Portland,” Pollard said.

NU faces a demanding schedule in the next few days, with matches against No.22 Notre Dame on Thursday and Furman and No. 5 North Carolina this weekend. Pollard said the team would be ready for the challenge.

“I don’t think we are any different than a week ago,” Pollard said, “We’re maybe beginning to realize that we’ve all got to step up. Hopefully we can relax a little more and not feel too anxious.”