Woman’s Tennis
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Northwestern (21-2, 10-0 Big Ten) vs. No. 8 Penn State (7-11, 2-8)
Penn State won a qualifier against No. 9 Ohio State (7-18, 2-8) on Thursday for the chance to take on nationally-ranked No. 2 Northwestern, a team that has won 19 straight Big Ten matches and beaten the Nittany Lions all 14 times they’ve played them, including a 6-1 drubbing March 30. Some honor.
Daily Pick: Northwestern
No. 4 Illinois (12-10, 6-4) vs. No. 5 Wisconsin (14-7, 6-4)
The Illini and Badgers are similar teams with capable senior leadership and a wealth of contributing underclassmen. Both teams have a solid top three in singles play, but the difference could be the No. 4 spot, where Wisconsin’s Kaylan Caiati has won 12 of her last 13 matches.
Daily Pick: Wisconsin
No. 2 Indiana (14-10, 8-2) vs. No. 7 Michigan (11-10, 6-4)
Indiana handled the Wolverines during the last weekend of the season, 4-3, and the Hoosiers will rely on their depth to carry them again. Watch for Sarah Batty at the No. 2 spot and Cecile Perton, who has the team’s best winning percentage, at No. 6.
Daily Pick: Indiana
No. 3 Iowa (13-8, 7-3) vs. No. 6 Purdue (9-12, 6-4)
Purdue started the season 2-9, largely based on a tough non-conference schedule that included a win over No. 33 Texas A&M. The Hawkeyes have been solid throughout, but a lack of experience — they have no upperclassmen on their roster — could spell trouble in the tournament.
Daily Pick: Purdue
Semifinals
No. 1 Northwestern vs. No. 5 Wisconsin
The Badgers gave the Cats’ one of their biggest tests during the Big Ten season when they lost 5-2 in the conference opener. NU could have trouble with the bottom half of Wisconsin’s lineup, which is populated by surging players. But not that much trouble.
Daily Pick: Northwestern
No. 2 Indiana vs. No. 6 Purdue
While the Boilermakers do have the talent to hang with Indiana, the Hoosiers could set the tone in the doubles portion — where they have solid teams at Nos. 1 through 3 — and not let their intrastate rivals back into the match. Fatigue also could play a factor, with Purdue playing its third match in three days.
Daily Pick: Indiana
Finals
No. 1 Northwestern vs. No. 2 Indiana
What do you call a team that lost no doubles matches and only eight singles matches against conference opponents during the regular season? Big Ten champions.
Despite Indiana’s success in the conference this year and its 13 previous conference titles, the final should be a replay of NU’s 6-1 win in March.
Daily Pick: Northwestern (Seven in a row)
— Compiled by David Morrison
