Double duty oh so sweet for Grier in round of 16
NU only school still alive in singles, doubles
By Sarah Bailey
The Daily Northwestern
Northwestern tennis player Cristelle Grier rarely gets to challenge herself against top players during the regular season.
But in the past two days of the NCAA tournament in Athens, Ga., Grier has proven she’s a top-five player by winning two matches a day against the nation’s top competition.
Grier earned her 40th victory of the year against Arizona’s No. 11 Dianne Hollands 6-2, 6-4 in the Sweet 16 on Wednesday morning. After a two-hour break, Grier stepped back onto the court for doubles with partner Jessica Rush and defeated Clemson’s Julie Coin and Maria Brito 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
“It’s pretty tiring to play two,” Grier said. “But when you’ve got a partner like Rushie, it’s really easy to get up for doubles. We just click together. You can take two great singles players on the court and they’re absolutely worthless. But for us there’s just chemistry when it comes down to it.”
The Wildcats duo started off strong in doubles, but coach Claire Pollard said the pair tired during the second set because of the 95-degree heat.
They had a 10-minute break before the third set and went inside to an air conditioned area to refuel. Pollard talked to them about fighting through to the end.
“We definitely made a huge effort to be really energized in the third set, and we really got that going right away,” Rush said. “We discussed strategy and tried to get pumped up for the last part.”
Since the top four seeds and the sixth seed were eliminated Tuesday, Grier and Rush are the highest seed in the quarterfinals.
NU is also the only school with players in both singles and doubles in the tournament.
“You’re at the stage when you’re lucky to get through,” Pollard said. “But it’s Jessica’s last time playing for us and we want to make sure we give it the best we have.”
Grier is no stranger to the final eight, and the sophomore lost last year in the quarterfinals.
“She played about as well as she could have and if she plays like that the rest of the tournament I’ll be very happy,” Pollard said. “She’s had one bad match in the last three months.”
