Entering Big Ten competition with a two-game win streak, Northwestern looked to continue its momentum against No. 45 Iowa and Nebraska, but split the matches Friday and Sunday.
Despite differing outcomes, the script of the matches looked nearly identical.
The Wildcats (8-5, 1-1 Big Ten) took both of the weekend’s doubles points, as well as the first singles points. However, they fell in the next three singles matches against both opponents and trailed 3-2. After tying it up at 3-3, the No. 5 singles match was all that remained both times.
Freshman Marelie Raath fell in three sets to seal NU’s defeat to Iowa 4-3, but sophomore Mika Dagan Fruchtman won a match-deciding third set to take down Nebraska 4-3.
The ’Cats opened conference play in Iowa City on Friday, where they faced the Hawkeyes (8-5, 2-0 Big Ten). NU began the match with a 6-4 win at second doubles by Raath and junior Neena Feldman. Dagan Fruchtman and sophomore Maia Loureiro fell to Iowa’s No. 3 doubles pairing of Emma Tothová and Pia Kranholdt 3-6, leaving the doubles point up to the top duos.
The match set NU’s No. 87-ranked pairing of freshman Margot Phanthala and sophomore Erica Jessel against No. 25 Daianne Hayashida and Mia Mack. The ’Cats came away with the upset victory and the doubles point, winning 6-4.
After nabbing the first point of the match, junior Autumn Rabjohns extended NU’s lead to 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-3 win. However, the Hawkeyes bounced back with three straight singles wins and took a 3-2 lead. No. 69-ranked Phanthala fell to Iowa’s No. 87-ranked Mack 3-6, 5-7.
On the ropes, Feldman defeated Hayashida 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to extend the contest. With the match on the line, Raath fell 6-7(6), 6-2, 2-6 to Iowa’s Nikita Vishwase, giving the hosts the victory.
Looking to bounce back from the tight loss, the ’Cats headed west to face the Cornhuskers (7-4, 0-2 Big Ten) on Sunday, coming out on top 4-3.
Phanthala and Jessel came out strong at the top doubles spot, winning 6-3 over Nebraska’s Catherine Gagnon and Katie Spencer. Raath and Loureiro matched up at third doubles and nabbed the doubles point for NU, claiming a 7-5 victory.
Just as she had on Friday, Rabjohns nabbed the first singles point, winning 6-1, 6-1. After taking a 2-0 lead, the ’Cats dropped the next three matches, with the closest margin coming from Phanthala, who lost 4-6, 5-7.
Jessel won 7-6(5), 7-6(3) over Gagnon to put the overall score at 3-3. In the final match of the weekend, Dagan Fruchtman split the first two sets, but made quick work of Tiziana Rossini in the third set, claiming a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory to put NU back in the win column.
The ’Cats continue their Big Ten road trip against Illinois on Saturday at 1 p.m.
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