North by Northwestern

Kate Turvy came in having been a part of three NCAA regional title-winning teams. She clinched a fourth Saturday.

Turvy's 6-3, 6-3 victory in No. 2 singles over redshirt freshman Victoria Kisialeva gave Northwestern's women's tennis team a pass to the round of 16 at the NCAA Tournament. The senior was one of many Wildcats to cruise past Baylor at the Combe Tennis Center.

Northwestern began the day in dominating fashion, winning doubles matches 8-2 and 8-3 to clinch the first point of the contest. Turvy partnered with junior Belinda Niu to kick off her big outing with a decisive win, while freshman Alicia Barnett and junior Veronica Corning powered past Bears Kiah Generette and Alex Leatu for their 13th-straight doubles victory.

Corning didn't fare quite as well in singles play, losing to sophomore Ema Burgic 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles. Corning responded from the first-set sweep by jumping out to a 2-1 lead before dropping five straight games. Not much could be expected against Burgic, the 10th-ranked player in the country.

Baylor took a 2-1 lead after junior Jordaan Sanford knocked off Niu in No. 3 singles, but from there, Northwestern caught fire: Junior Nida Hamilton won 6-0, 6-2 in the No. 6 spot and senior Linda Abu Mushrefova took a 6-3, 6-4 win in No. 4 singles. 

Turvy's convincing victory over Baylor's Kisialeva sealed the deal, giving the 'Cats their third straight point and their 10th-consecutive regional title in NCAA postseason play. Northwestern will look to make national noise in the round of 16, which begins Friday in Urbana, Ill. The Wildcats will see Miami, a team that they trumped 4-2 back in February in the ITA Indoor Team Championships.