North by Northwestern

The NCAA Tournament is usually marked by intriguing matchups and unpredictable finishes, but Northwestern women’s tennis made it look incredibly easy against Illinois-Chicago at Combe Tennis Center on Friday afternoon, winning 4-0 in convincing fashion.

NU (19-8) did not drop a single set on the day, a feat which it hadn’t accomplished all year. Although the start of the match was delayed 50 minutes while Baylor and San Diego State finished up, the Wildcats made up for that time by winning in just two hours.

The tone was set early, as all three doubles teams rolled to comfortable victories. The team of senior Linda Abu Mushrefova and junior Nida Hamilton, which is ranked 15th nationally, led the way with an 8-2 win, followed closely by an 8-1 victory from senior Kate Turvy and junior Belinda Niu. Even though they led 7-2, junior Veronica Corning and freshman Alicia Barnett’s match was not completed.

Turvy, despite being the lone 'Cat to be selected for the NCAA singles championships, stayed placed in the No. 2 spot that she has been in for the last several matches, and she was dominant. The No. 57 player in the nation finished well before anyone else by defeating Mariana Palacios 6-0, 6-0.

In the No. 3 spot, Niu was the next to finish with a 6-4, 6-1 decision over UIC’s Natalia Kuvakina. After No. 4 seed Hamilton won 6-2, 6-1 over the Flames’ Keti Mebuke, the best-of-seven match was clinched. Corning and Barnett had each taken the first set, but their matches went unfinished.

The tournament continues Saturday, and Northwestern will take on Baylor, which defeated SDSU 4-1 in the earlier match. The second-round matchup will take place at noon.