Northwestern picked up its fourth win in a row Sunday and remains undefeated this season as it defeated UIC 7-0.

In doubles, the Wildcats (4-0, 0-0 Big Ten) dominated. The No. 2 pairing of sophomore Maia Loureiro and freshman Marelie Raath decisively won their match 6-1. The No. 1 duo of sophomore Erica Jessel and freshman Margot Phanthala followed suit and won their doubles match shortly after by the same score.

With the doubles point locked up, junior Autumn Rabjohns and junior Neena Feldman’s match at No. 3 ended early with NU up 5-2.

In singles, No. 3 Rabjohns’ match was the first to finish. She took down her opponent in a 6-0, 6-2 victory for her fourth straight-set singles win in a row this season.

“All credit toward her that she’s really learned a lot about her game and learned a lot about herself and is hungry and excited to only keep getting better,” coach Claire Pollard said of Rabjohns.

The next match to finish was at the No. 1 spot. Phanthala, the ITA’s No. 39-ranked singles player, trounced her opponent 6-1, 6-1. She used near-perfect technique to run her opponent back and forth across the court.

Phanthala, a Paris native, remains undefeated this season. 

“I think we have a No. 1 who can play with anyone in the country,” Pollard said of Phanthala.

Jessel clinched the match for the ’Cats, winning 6-2, 6-0. Raath won her match 6-4, 6-3, followed by No. 2 Feldman’s victory at 6-4, 6-4.

Loureiro came back from being down a set to claim a 5-7, 6-2, 10-7 win at No. 6.

A notable name missing from Saturday’s lineup was sophomore Mika Dagan Fruchtman, who mainly played at No. 1 last season. Pollard said Dagan Fruchtman had to sit out Sunday due to competition limits.

“Every week, whatever match, any matches we have that week, we’re just trying to really teach the girls to play a complete season and one day at a time, one moment at a time, one match at a time,” Pollard said.

Team camaraderie is another important aspect, despite tennis being an individual sport, Phanthala said. 

Even in the middle of their matches, the players could be seen cheering each other on across the courts.

“It’s super helpful, especially in moments where you feel down,” Phanthala said. “There’s always a teammate here to support you, here to cheer you up.”

NU will hit the road for matches against Middle Tennessee and Vanderbilt next weekend.

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