College Tennis News - NU Rolls On to Quarterfinals at ITA Team Indoor Championship

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Senior Linda Abu Mushrefova's comeback three-set win at No. 5 singles clinched a 4-1 victory for the 14th-ranked Northwestern women's tennis team Friday morning as the Wildcats took down ninth-ranked and seventh-seeded at the ITA Team Indoor Championship.

NU advances to face the winner of the match between second-seeded Duke and Baylor in the Saturday's quarterfinal round of 26th-annual event which is being hosted by the University of Virginia at Boar's Head Sports Club.

Northwestern surged in front of the Crimson Tide by taking always-crucial doubles point. The 'Cats were defeated at No. 1, but bounced back as the No. 2 duo of Veronica Corning and Alicia Barnett toppled Antonia Foehse and Maya Jansen, 8-2, before the No. 3 pairing of Belinda Niu and Kate Turvy defeated Yasmeen Ebada and Emily Zabor, 8-4.

Niu carried her strong play into singles action as she rolled to a 6-4, 6-2 victory over 59th-ranked Maya Jansen at No. 3, making the advantage 2-0 in the Wildcats' favor.

Alabama got on the board at No. 2 as 13th-ranked Alexa Guarachi was able to withstand a fight from Corning, winning 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.

However, NU was able to gut out a pair of three-set wins at Nos. 4 and 5 to clinch the match. Brittany Wowchuk took down Antonia Foehse 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 at No. 4 before Linda Abu Mushrefova sealed the deal, ralling for a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 triumph over Emily Zabor.

At No. 1, 67th-ranked Kate Turvy held a 5-2 lead over 12th-ranked Mary Anne Macfarlane when their match was abandoned.

Northwestern's match on Saturday vs. the Duke/Baylor winner is slated to get underway at 11 a.m. CT.

#14 Northwestern 4, #9 Alabama 1
Doubles
1. #2 Alexa Guarachi / Mary Anne Macfarlane (UA) def. #42 Linda Abu Mushrefova / Nida Hamilton (NU) 8-1
2. Veronica Corning / Alicia Barnett (NU) def. Antonia Foehse / Maya Jansen (UA) 8-2
3. Belinda Niu / Kate Turvy (NU) def. Yasmeen Ebada / Emily Zabor (UA) 8-4
Order of Finish: 1,2,3*

Singles
1. #12 Mary Anne Macfarlane (UA) vs. #67 Kate Turvy (NU) 4-6, 7-5, 2-5, unfinished
2. #13 Alexa Guarachi (UA) def. Veronica Corning (NU) 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
3. Belinda Niu (NU) def. #59 Maya Jansen (UA) 6-4, 6-2
4. Brittany Wowchuk (NU) def. Antonia Foehse (UA) 6-2, 0-6, 6-4
5. Linda Abu Mushrefova (NU) def. Emily Zabor (UA) 4-6, 6-0, 6-3
6. #105 Natalia Maynetto (UA) vs. Nida Hamilton (NU) 7-5, 6-5, unfinished
Order of Finish: 3,2,4,5*