Irish Fall in Close Battle with Northwestern

NOTRE DAME, In. —  The Notre Dame Women’s Tennis team ended its four-match homestand with a tight 4-3 loss to Northwestern at the Eck Tennis Pavilion. After losing the doubles point, the Irish rallied to take three singles matches before falling to the Wildcats.

“We had a tough battle tonight,” Coach Silverio said. “Credit to Northwestern for stepping up. Our team is learning valuable lessons with every match. We will continue to trust the process and trust in our culture. Uncomfortable moments are growth opportunities.”

How It Happened

In doubles play, the duo of Zoe Spence and Zoe Taylor began play knotted with Northwestern’s Crowley and McColgan at two apiece. The Wildcats quickly fought back and earned a 6-4 victory. Ally Bojczuk and Julia Lilien also fell, 6-4, as Northwestern was able to strike first.

Page Freeman began singles play for the Irish with a victory, earning a 6-3, 6-3 win. After dropping the first game in the second set, the freshman rebounded to build a solid lead at 4-2 before eventually clinching the 6-3 match victory.

Spence and Julia Lilien also picked up singles wins for the Irish. Spence started her second set down 1-0 and dominated, building a 4-0 lead before winning 6-1. In the third set, Spence closed it out with the victory, taking a 6-3 third-set win.

Lilien earned the third Irish point of the day behind a strong 6-0 first-set victory. After falling in the second set, 7-5, Lilien fought back. Tied at three in the third set, Lilien continued to fight, earning the victory behind a 6-4 third-set victory.

 

Notre Dame		Northwestern
	3		4

 

#1 SINGLES   1     2     3   Notes Julie Byrne, Northwestern 6 1 3 Order of finish: 3 Zoe Spence, Notre Dame 2 6 6

#2 SINGLES   1     2     3   Notes Inci Ogut, Northwestern 6 6 Order of finish: 2 Cameron Corse, Notre Dame 2 4

#3 SINGLES   1     2     3   Notes Clarissa Hand, Northwestern 5 6 6 Order of finish: 6 Ally Bojczuk, Notre Dame 7 3 3

#4 SINGLES   1     2     3   Notes Briana Crowley, Northwestern 3 3 Order of finish: 1 Page Freeman, Notre Dame 6 6

#5 SINGLES   1     2     3   Notes Caroline Pozo, Northwestern 0 7 4 Order of finish: 4 Julia Lilien, Notre Dame 6 5 6

#6 SINGLES   1     2     3   Notes Hannah McColgan, Northwestern 2 7 6 Order of finish: 5 Maeve Koscielski, Notre Dame 6 6 1

 

#1 DOUBLES   1     2     3   Notes Julie Byrne/Inci Ogut, Northwestern 5 Cameron Corse/Page Freeman, Notre Dame 4

#2 DOUBLES   1     2     3   Notes Briana Crowley/Hannah McColgan, Northwestern 6 Order of finish: 1 Zoe Spence/Zoe Taylor, Notre Dame 4

#3 DOUBLES   1     2     3   Notes Christina Hand/Clarissa Hand, Northwestern 6 Order of finish: 2 Ally Bojczuk/Julia Lilien, Notre Dame 4

Up Next

The Irish head to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on Purdue this Sunday, Feb. 7. The match will begin at 2 p.m. ET and live updates will be available on Twitter via @NDWomensTennis.

—ND—