April 19, 2008

Results

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Top-ranked Northwestern closed out its storybook regular season Saturday with a 7-0 win over Michigan State. The Wildcats finished their fourth-consecutive season at 10-0 in Big Ten play Saturday, and secured sole possession of the Big Ten regular season championship.

The 'Cats (23-1, 10-0) finish with their best-ever regular season record in Head coach Claire Pollard's 10 seasons at the helm. Northwestern wins its eighth Big Ten regular season title in the past 10 seasons, and hopes to secure its record-breaking 10th-consecutive Big Ten Championship next week in West Lafayette, Ind.

Northwestern completed the dual season in dominant fashion Saturday, sweeping the doubles and singles from Michigan State en route to a 7-0 victory. At No. 3 doubles, Georgia Rose (Mettawa, Ill./North Shore Country Day) and Nazlie Ghazal (Temecula, Calif./Chaparral) came out firing and never let up, taking an 8-0 victory.

Suzie Matzenauer (Tacoma, Wash./Bellarmine) and Samantha Murray (Altrincham, England) followed suit at No. 3, picking up an 8-0 sweep of their own, securing the doubles point for Northwestern. Keri Robison (Decatur, Ill./Keystone National) and Maria Mosolova (Moscow, Russia/No. 204) completed the doubles sweep with an 8-2 win at No. 2.

The momentum carried straight into singles for the 'Cats, who looked determined to clinch the Big Ten title Saturday. At No. 5, Ghazal breezed her way through a quick victory, 6-0, 6-1, picking up her 12th-consecutive win. Just a few minutes later, Matzenauer closed out her match with a straight set, shutout win at No. 6, 6-0, 6-0. She ends her dual regular season with a 21-2 record in singles play.

With a 3-0 advantage, Georgia Rose clinched the match and the regular season title for Northwestern. Rose looked dominant and confident en route to her 6-0, 6-0 sweep at No. 2. Mosolova gave the Wildcats a 5-0 lead after ending her match, 6-0, 6-2 at No. 1. The third-ranked freshman will enter the Big Ten Championship with the best overall singles record (33-4) and winning percentage (.892) among the 'Cats.

Northwestern took a 6-0 advantage when Lauren Lui was victorious at No. 4, 6-1, 6-1. Lui will enter post-season play with her impressive winning streak in tact. She has won 17-consecutive matches, improved to 20-0 from No. 4 this season and has not lost from that position in her last 27 attempts. Lui, Matzenauer and Ghazal all boast a 20-win dual season.

The 'Cats closed out the day with a, 7-0, victory when Murray defeated her opponent at No. 3, 6-4, 6-0. Murray improved to 35-9 overall this season, winning more matches than any other member of the Wildcat squad this season.

Northwestern continued its domination of the Big Ten in the 2007-08 regular season. On Saturday, the Wildcats outscored Michigan State 72-9 in singles and 24-2 in doubles. Lui, Matzenauer, Mosolova and Robison all went undefeated in conference singles play this season. As a team, the 'Cats out-dueled their Big Ten foes 56-4 in singles and 27-3 in doubles.

Saturday's match was tape-delayed broadcast on the Big Ten Network, and is scheduled to air at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23.

During the break between doubles and singles, Coach Pollard and the Wildcats honored the lone senior from this year's team, Alexis Conill (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons). Conill, who was unable to participate due to injury, leaves the Wildcats with a perfect 40-0 Big Ten regular season record. She has developed into a doubles specialist through the years, finishing the season with an 18-2 dual record. As Conill prepares to graduate with a degree in Economics this spring, her positive attitude and selflessness will be sorely missed in the Wildcat family next year.

The Wildcats return to action when they travel to the Big Ten Championship, April 24-27, in search of their record-setting 10th-straight crown. Northwestern will compete as the top seed in the tournament and will face the No. 8 vs. No. 9 seed winner at 9 a.m. Friday, April 25.

Singles competition

1. Maria Mosolova (NU) def. Christine Bader (MSU) 6-0, 6-2
2. Georgia Rose (NU) def. Stephanie Kebler (MSU) 6-0, 6-0
3. Samantha Murray (NU) def. Ana Milosavljevic (MSU) 6-4, 6-0
4. Lauren Lui (NU) def. Ally Wickman (MSU) 6-1, 6-1
5. Nazlie Ghazal (NU) def. Christine Milliken (MSU) 6-0, 6-1
6. Suzie Matzenauer (NU) def. Kathryn Bonnen (MSU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Suzie Matzenauer/Samantha Murray (NU) def. Christine Bader/Stephanie Kebler (MSU) 8-0
2. Keri Robison/Maria Mosolova (NU) def. Christine Milliken/Ana Milosavljevic (MSU) 8-2
3. Georgia Rose/Nazlie Ghazal (NU) def. Kathryn Bonnen/Ally Wickman (MSU) 8-0

Match Notes

Order of finish: Doubles (3,1,2); Singles (5,6,2,1,4,3)

2007-08 Wildcat Highlights
Football Season Tickets Now On Sale
Fourth of July Parade
Wildcat Football at 2008 Commencement
Coach Joe McKeown Introduction