FIRST ROUND (Friday)
No. 8 MINNESOTA (11-11, 3-7 Big Ten) vs. No. 9 PENN STATE (5-17, 2-8)
The Golden Gophers have been an up-and-down team all season long. After beating Penn State, 5-2, in late March, Minnesota lost five straight Big Ten matches. But with a pair of wins on the regular season’s final weekend, the Golden Gophers are on an upswing, and they’ll be heading to a date with No. 1 Northwestern in the quarterfinals.
Daily pick: Minnesota
No. 6 PURDUE (8-12, 4-6) vs. No. 11 MICHIGAN STATE (8-15, 1-9)
It’s been a tough year for the Spartans, but one of the team’s best performances came in a 4-3 loss to the Boilermakers on April 12. Following a sweep of the doubles matches, Michigan State lost four of six in singles on the team’s senior day. After winning her first set, Spartans senior Stephanie Kebler lost the next two in the first singles spot. Without senior day festivities distracting them, look for Kebler and Michigan State to seal the deal this time around.
Daily pick: Michigan State
No. 7 WISCONSIN (8-14, 3-7) vs. No. 10 IOWA (7-14, 2-8)
Wisconsin overcame the strong play of Iowa’s No. 91 Sonja Monjar in its 4-3 win in Iowa City, Iowa, on April 11. The Badgers rode the momentum of the victory over the Hawkeyes to wins in their next two Big Ten matches against Minnesota and Penn State. Throw in home-court advantage, and Wisconsin should have no problem advancing to round two.
Daily pick: Wisconsin
QUARTERFINALS (Friday)
NO. 1 NORTHWESTERN (22-1, 10-0) vs. No. 8 MINNESOTA
The Wildcats are the nation’s top-ranked team, bring a 74-game conference winning streak into the match, and should have no problem grabbing an easy quarterfinal win. The Golden Gophers only hope of avenging a 7-0 loss earlier this season is the Cats overlooking them. With NU’s run of five straight 7-0 wins in conference play, though, they team doesn’t appear to be overlooking anyone.
Daily pick: NU
No. 4 OHIO STATE (14-9, 7-3) vs. No. 5 INDIANA (14-9, 6-4)
In one of the most dominating performances of the Big Ten season, then-No. 43 Ohio State shutout then-No. 38 Indiana, 7-0, on April 12. The Buckeyes were even missing No. 3 singles player Cami Hubbs during that match. The Hoosiers are a better team than they showed that day, but have struggled all season away from home.
Daily Pick: Ohio State
No. 3 ILLINOIS (17-6, 8-2) vs. No. 11 MICHIGAN STATE
The clock strikes midnight, and the Spartans’ hopes of being the Big Ten tournament’s Cinderella end in the quarterfinals. The Fighting Illini overpowered the Spartans, 7-0, on April 18, winning every singles match in straight sets. Look for No. 75 Megan Fudge and No. 99 Leigh Finnegan to pace the Illini to the semifinals.
Daily pick: Illinois
No. 2 MICHIGAN (15-5, 9-1) vs. No. 7 WISCONSIN
With the home crowd behind them, the host Badgers will try to pull an upset over the No. 18 Wolverines. The No. 1 doubles matchup should take center stage, as Wisconsin’s No. 59 Elizabeth Carpenter and Angela Chupa try to avenge an 8-2 defeat at the hands of Michigan’s No. 24 Chisako Sugiyama and Tania Mahtani. Even with a Wisconsin win in this spot, Michigan’s depth will be too much.
Daily pick: Michigan
SEMIFINALS (Saturday)
NO. 1 NU VS. NO. 4 OHIO STATE
After the Buckeyes put up a fight for the doubles point, the Cats thoroughly dominated singles play, winning all six matches in straight sets in their 7-0 win on April 18. Watch NU’s No. 1 Maria Mosolova toy with Ohio State’s Kristen Flower all match long. Last time out, Mosolova’s play caused Flower to repeatedly scream at herself and at her racket.
Daily pick: NU
NO. 2 MICHIGAN VS. NO. 3 ILLINOIS
The battle for the No. 2 seed came down to the final match of the regular season, where the Maize and Blue played like the Amazin’ Blue in defeating the Illini 6-1. Solid singles play from No. 70 Sugiyama and No. 106 Rika Tatsuno will be too much for the Illini to overcome.
Daily pick: Michigan
FINALS (Sunday)
NO.1 NU vs. NO. 2 MICHIGAN
The Wolverines are one of the best teams in the country. But they are no match for the Cats, who already picked up a 6-1 win in the teams’ regular season matchup. Seniors Georgia Rose, Nazlie Ghazal and Keri Robison will lead NU to its 11th consecutive Big Ten tournament championship. Next stop on the Wildcat Express: the NCAA tournament.
Daily pick: NU
