Feb. 28, 2004

Northwestern-Washington results
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EVANSTON, Ill.--Northwestern's 10th-ranked women's tennis team showed it can still tangle with the best.

After two losses last weekend, the Wildcats were able to bounce back and upset No. 4 Washington 4-3 at Combe Tennis Center for their fifth win over a top-25 team.

"We were determined to take advantage of being at home," said head coach Claire Pollard. "We were anxious to prove to ourselves we were a better team than the one that lost last weekend."

NU (8-3) got off to a good start toward proving that by taking the doubles point. Jamie Peisel (Savannah, Ga./Savannah) and Alexis Prousis (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) led the charge by cruising past Dinka Hadzic and Saskia Nauenberg 8-2 at No. 2. That gave the Northwestern tandem its 12th victory of the year.

The third-ranked duo of Cristelle Grier (Surrey, England/Putney) and Jessica Rush (Dallas, Texas/Dallas) then clinched the point by rumbling over No. 19 Claire Carter and Dea Sumantri 8-4 at No. 1. Andrea Yung (San Marino, Calif./San Marino) and Ruth Barnes (Cambridge, England/Hills Road Sixth Form College) earned the sweep by rallying to beat Erin Hoe and Monika Kolbovic 8-7 (7-1) at No. 3.

For the 2-0 lead, Connie Chiang (Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh West) proved too tough in her easy 6-1, 6-2 win over Kolbovic at No. 6. After an NU-loss at No. 3, third-ranked Grier's 6-2, 6-4 victory over No. 25 Carter at No. 1 brought the advantage back to two for the 'Cats.

Peisel clinched the win for NU with her triumph over Hadzic at No. 4. After a quick first set, Peisel was able to hang on in a lengthy second set for a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) decision.

"I was pleased all around," said Pollard. "When you play a top-10 team, you have no margin for error."

The Wildcats will remain at home next week, taking on Marquette at 4 p.m. March 2 and Wisconsin at 5 p.m. March 5.

No. 10 Northwestern 4, No. 4 Washington 3

Singles
No. 1 -- #3 Cristelle Grier (NU) def. #25 Claire Carter (UW), 6-2, 6-4
No. 2 -- #23 Dea Sumantri (UW) def. #67 Jessica Rush (NU), 6-3, 5-7, 1-0 (10-7)
No. 3 -- Erin Hoe (UW) def. Alexis Prousis (NU), 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 -- Jamie Peisel (NU) def. Dinka Hadzic (UW), 6-2, 7-6 (7-4)
No. 5 -- Saskia Nauenberg (UW) def. Ruth Barnes (NU), 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
No. 6 -- Connie Chiang (NU) def. Monika Kolbovic (UW), 6-1, 6-2

Doubles
No. 1 -- #3 Grier/Rush (NU) def. #19 Carter/Sumantri (UW), 8-4
No. 2 -- Prousis/Peisel (NU) def. Hadzic/Nauenberg (UW), 8-2
No. 3 -- Yung/Barnes (NU) def. Hoe/Kolbovic (UW), 8-7 (7-1)

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