This past season was a struggle for the Wildcats, who went 12-13, 7-4 Big 10 and missed out on the NCAA tournament for the first time in 23 years. 

In the months since that difficult season drew to a close, the squad took another hit with the graduation of Christina Hand, who came into last season ranked No. 57, and Briana Crowley, two of the team’s top players. 

The loss of Hand and Crowley does not bode well for a team that has already been struggling, but a few graduate transfers will hope to fill the team’s experience gap. 

Britany Lau and Elisa Van Meeteren will be coming to Evanston from Brown and William & Mary, respectively. The graduate transfers will bring with them experience in the NCAA tournament, and that familiarity will be incredibly valuable to this relatively young team. 

The Cats might also have some home-grown stars this season, as new players rise up to be leaders. 

Keep an eye on Maria Shusharina, a senior and All-Big 10 selection, to help lead the way. She has plenty of experience playing the top singles spot and doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Junior Justine Leong will be a similar presence to watch as she continues to occupy the top singles courts. 

This season will be a tough one — but if the team’s younger core can come into their own, the Cats have a chance at pulling off a shocker. 

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Twitter: @alycebrownn