Northwestern hosted its fifth doubleheader of the season when No. 23 Illinois and Youngstown State entered Combe Tennis Center Saturday.
Coach Arvid Swan’s squad entered the day having won three Big Ten matches this season, already matching its total from the season prior. The Wildcats (11-11, 3-4 Big Ten) weren’t able to surpass last season’s conference win total, however, as they fell to the Fighting Illini (12-6, 5-2 Big Ten) 4-0 in the first match of the day.
NU failed to capture the double point. At the No. 2 spot, graduate student Saiprakash Goli and sophomore Greyson Casey lost 6-2. Then, at the No. 3 position, senior Max Bengtsson and freshman Vincent Yang lost 7-6(4).
The No. 1 duo of senior Felix Nordby and junior Chad Miller had their match unfinished down 6-5.
In singles, the ’Cats quickly dropped two matches in straight sets to fall down 3-0. At No. 4, Bengtsson lost 6-3, 6-4, while Goli, playing at the No. 1, fell 6-3, 6-2.
Each remaining singles match went into a third set, in which NU would have to win four of the five to come up with a miraculous comeback. It wasn’t meant to be, as No. 2 Nordby lost from a set up 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, solidifying the ’Cats’ 4-0 defeat.
After dominating the first set, No. 3 Casey was down 0-6, 7-6(7), 2-0 when the match finished. No. 5 Miller was eyeing a comeback victory but was behind 7-6(0), 3-6, 2-1, while No. 6 Yang won his first set 6-4 before losing his second set 7-6(2).
NU bounced back with a strong showing just hours later, sweeping the Penguins (11-6, 3-0 Horizon) 4-0.
Both of the ’Cats’ doubles teams that lost earlier in the day — No. 2 Goli and Casey, as well as No. 3 Bengtsson and Yang — notched 6-2 wins. At the No. 1 slot, Nordby and Miller were closing in on a win with a 5-2 lead.
No. 2 Nordby earned NU its second point of the match with a 6-2, 6-3 singles win, earning his team-best 15th singles win of the season. No. 4 Bengtsson avenged his straight set defeat earlier in the day by taking his opponent to the bakery in a 6-1, 6-0 win. No. 5 Miller capped off the match with a 6-2, 7-5 victory.
No. 1 Goli and No. 3 Casey had won their first sets 7-6(6) and 6-3, respectively. No. 6 Yang was the only Wildcat to drop a set, losing his first set 6-2.
NU hits the road next weekend for a pair of Big Ten matchups with No. 32 Michigan State and No. 20 Michigan.
Email: charliespungin2027@u.northwestern.edu
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