MINNEAPOLIS – University of Northwestern Women's Tennis took on Principia College on Saturday afternoon at the Baseline Tennis Center in a battle for the UMAC Tournament Championship. UNW was pushed to the brink as the Panthers went up 4-1 in the match, but the Eagles dug deep and fought on to win the remaining four matches for a 5-4 team victory; clinching the tournament title for the third year in a row and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
In doubles, Northwestern earned the first team point as
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie) and
Taylar Smith (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) took an 8-2 victory in the #3 match. Principia, however, went on to win the two remaining doubles matches. The Panthers took #1 doubles 8-3 and closed out the doubles contests with an 8-4 victory in the #2 match.
Trailing 2-1, the Eagles needed to win at least four of the six singles matches to earn the conference tournament title. The Panthers made UNW's path to the title narrower with a 6-1, 6-2 victory at #4 singles to go up 3-1. Principia then took the #1 singles match 6-2, 6-1 to go up 4-1 in the match; needing just one more win in the four remaining matches to deny Northwestern the championship.
With their backs to the wall, the Eagles went to work.
Taylar Smith (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) gave UNW their second team point with a 6-2, 6-2 win at #5 singles.
Domiano Baideme (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) followed with a 6-2, 6-2 win in the #3 singles match to win a third team point for Northwestern.
The key match of the championship was the #2 singles match.
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) fell 6-1 in the opening set of the match. Nonetheless, the freshman kept fighting and turned the tables in set two; winning 6-2 to even the match at one set apiece.
Instead of going to a super tiebreaker, Johnson's match then went into a full third set due to the new rule this season. The UNW freshman continued to fight hard through the third set and in the end emerged victorious with a gutsy 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 win for Northwestern.
With the team score now tied at 4-4, everything came down to one final match: #6 singles. Marquardt played for UNW in the contest and jumped ahead with a 6-0 sweep in the opening set. Principia won three games in the second set, but Marquardt powered ahead to win the match 6-0, 6-3 and complete the 5-4 team victory for Northwestern.
Up next, Northwestern will compete in the first round of the NCAA Championships. The Eagles will find out on Monday who and where they play next in the NCAA Selection Show.
