Northwestern has had bad luck with weather conditions this season since the beginning of outdoor play. Wednesday was no different for senior Maria Mosolova as she began her run in the NCAA singles championships in Palo Alto, Calif.
As was the case in the team’s Round of 16 meet against Stanford, rain delayed the start time of Mosolova’s first-round match of the Individual Singles Championships against No. 26 Anna Bartenstein.
After a two-hour wait, Mosolova jumped ahead in the match courtesy of a dominant first set as she took the frame 6-3.
Bartenstein bounced back in the second, opening up a quick 3-0 lead and eventually securing the set 6-2. In the final frame, however, Mosolova put the match away, pulling ahead 4-1 en route to taking the match 6-3 2-6 6-3.
“Maria played great tennis today, ” coach Claire Pollard said in a press release on NUSports.com. “Anna (Bartenstein) stepped up her game in the second set, but Maria just stayed focused and pulled through with a great third. It was a great way to start the tournament.”
Mosolova’s win, which now pushes her dual meet singles record to 24-3 on the year, advances her to the second round where she will take on No. 36 Irene Rehberger from South Florida. Rehburger defeated Alabama’s Mary Anne Macfarlane, ranked No. 37, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in her opening round match.
