Before Northwestern took the court against Illinois Saturday, coach Claire Pollard stood before a crowd of spectators with her team behind her. Only a green fence at Vandy Christie Tennis Center separated Pollard and those listening to her.
The five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year heaped significant praise upon her graduating class: graduate student Britany Lau and seniors Sydney Pratt and Kiley Rabjohns. While Lau has only been at NU for two years, Pratt and Rabjohns have spent all four of their collegiate years as Wildcats after growing up within 20 miles of Evanston.
“I think it just means the world to (the local players),” Pollard said. “I think they understand the true sort of sentiment and feeling toward Northwestern being this amazing place. I think they really get that, whereas if you’re not from the Midwest, I don’t think it necessarily has the same sort of feeling.”
The Wildcats (11-12, 4-7 Big Ten) fell in Saturday’s Senior Day match against the Fighting Illini (11-11, 6-5 Big Ten), 4-1, as Pratt and Rabjohns played their final collegiate tennis match in Evanston.
In their four seasons at NU, Pratt and Rabjohns were part of two NCAA tournament teams. Pratt has consistently been in the ’Cats’ lineup for each of the past four seasons, while Rabjohns became a mainstay during her sophomore season.
“We feel like we’ve accomplished a lot here,” Rabjohns said. “Obviously, we’ve made lifelong relationships, (so) we’re very sad that we’re not going to be with our teammates every single day, putting in the work every single day. It’s kind of bittersweet.”
Being local products, the two had many family and friends in attendance Saturday. Rabjohns’ parents and grandparents were watching from the sidelines, while Pratt said her childhood coach was able to watch her perform as well — which she called a “full circle moment.”
During her Senior Day speech before the match, Pollard thanked the Rabjohns and Pratt families for being in attendance.
Pollard, in her 27th season as the team’s head coach, often describes NU as a developmental program where she prepares players for life. It’s a message that seems to have come across to her players, according to Pratt.
“She cares about the development of her players as people as well as tennis players,” Pratt said. “I’ve really struggled here, especially (in) my freshman, sophomore year. It was not easy for me, and she always believed in me and my tennis game, and that’s what’s led me to be able to have some successful seasons.”
Pratt, playing at the No. 4 position, secured the ’Cats’ lone point of the day against Illinois in a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 comeback victory in singles. She jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second set to grab the momentum, and in the third set, she broke at 1-1 — never looking back.
With the win, Pratt posted her team-best 15th singles win of the season.
“Coach Ellyse (Hamlin) came over and was talking to me about how to change my strategy,” Pratt said. “I was like, ‘We’re good. We got this.’ I feel like I picked up my energy a little bit and was able to play my game better in the second and third set.”
On the opposite side of NU’s outdoor courts, Rabjohns was playing her game, filled with slices and awkward spins, to perfection en route to an early 4-0 double-break lead. She went on to secure a 6-2 first set victory with a crosscourt backhand winner on set point.
Her match ultimately went unfinished at 6-2, 5-5 after she came back from down a break in the second set.
“This week I’ve been super focused on this match and preparing for this match,” Rabjohns said. “I felt like I was ready to go, and I knew I had to take chances when I had them. I was taking advantage of them and just trusting my game.”
The seasoned veterans have each posted 10 doubles wins this season, which is tied for second best on the team.
The two have one weekend remaining in the regular season, during which they will travel to Purdue and Indiana.
When Pollard spoke about both players pre-match, she said Pratt and Rabjohns both possessed an incredible work ethic and rarely missed practices. She praised them as both tennis players and people, and she said how much of a pleasure it was to have them alongside her for the past four seasons.
“I’d take them back over and over again, which is the biggest compliment you can give someone,” Pollard said. “They’ve both grown a lot. They really show up every day, so I’m really proud of what they’ve contributed to the program and the kind of people they are.”
Email: c.spungin@dailynorthwestern.com
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