No. 56 Northwestern looked to bounce back after a series split between Michigan State and Michigan.
Taking on a first-time conference opponent in No. 10 USC, the Wildcats (13-10, 5-6 Big Ten) were unable to secure the win in the teams’ first matchup since 2003, falling 4-1 to the Trojans (17-5, 10-1 Big Ten).
The No. 46-ranked pairing of sophomore Erica Jessel and freshman Margot Phanthala, along with the duo of sophomore Mika Dagan Fruchtman and junior Autumn Rabjohns, each recorded 2-6 losses. The match featuring junior Neena Feldman and freshman Marelie Raath was abandoned at 4-4.
In singles, Dagan Fruchtman lost 1-6, 0-6 to the Trojans’ Emma Charney, and sophomore Maia Loureiro lost 2-6, 3-6 to USC’s Krisha Mahendran.
Feldman broke the singles losing streak with a 7-6(2), 6-1 win over USC’s Immi Haddad, securing the sole point for the ’Cats in the game. Rabjohns fell 6-7(5), 2-6 to Trojan Eugenia Zozaya, leaving Raath and Phanthala’s matches unfinished in their third sets.
Sunday’s double-header against No. 16 UCLA and Chicago State marked the final home games for the team. Outdoors at Vandy Christie Tennis Center, NU was dominant in the doubles matches before losing 4-1 to UCLA.
Jessel and Phanthala, the ninth highest ranked pair in the Big Ten, finished first, beating the Bruins (13-6, 7-4 Big Ten) 6-1. They were followed closely by Feldman and Raath, with the pair winning 6-2 against their UCLA opponents. Dagan Fruchtman and Rabjohns’ match was unfinished at 4-5.
Singles ushered a turn for the worse for the women’s players, with the Bruins securing all wins in singles.
Feldman lost 0-6, 1-6 to the Bruins’ Mayu Crossley, followed by Phanthala losing 1-6, 2-6 and Dagan Fruchtman falling 3-6, 0-6. Jessel fought to make a comeback against her opponent in a gruelling match going to three sets, but lost 6-2, 1-6, 4-6.
After two difficult Big Ten matches, the ’Cats came up with a 4-0 win against the Chicago State Cougars in Combe Tennis Center. Feldman and Raath delivered a dominant start, winning 6-1.
They were closely followed by Dagan Fruchtman and junior Katya Shepherd Johnson, who secured a 6-0 win, and Jessel and Phanthala, who beat Mackenzie King and Skowronska 4-3.
Leading out well in singles, Raath and Feldman did not drop a game in their matchups, each winning 6-0, 6-0. Shepherd Johnson also displayed her prowess by outplaying the Cougars’ (1-23, 1-4 NEC) Nadjema Morille in a 6-1, 6-0 win. Jessel, Phanthala and Loureiro’s matches remained unfinished in their second sets. NU secured its sole win of the triple-header weekend in the final match of play.
The ’Cats take their campaign to the road, looking to secure a win against No. 44 Maryland on Friday.
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