ST. PAUL, Minn. – You couldn't have picked a better day to the University of Northwestern Women's Tennis team to play its first home matches of the season. The schedule change to move the matches versus Hamline University and Martin Luther College paid off and then some, as UNW took advantage of the warm air and sunny skies to earn a pair of non-conference wins. The Eagles won a 5-4 thriller over the Pipers before sweeping the Knights 9-0 once the sun had set.
Match One: Hamline University Pipers
Things did not go Northwestern's way early against Hamline. At #2 doubles,
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie) fell behind 0-5, but made things interesting as they cut the deficit to 4-6. That is where the run would end, however, as the Pipers would prevail, 8-4. Behind some strong serve play from
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool), UNW's #1 doubles team of Johnson and
Annie Orvis (Rochester, Minn/Schaeffer Academy) was able to earn a convincing 8-3 win to get the Eagles on the board. The #3 team of
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) fell behind 1-2 early, won the next two points to take a 3-2 lead, but ultimately dropped its match by a 4-8 margin, giving Hamline a 2-1 lead heading into singles matches.
The Eagles' backs were against the wall as singles play began, needing to win four of the six matches. Northwestern did just that. Johnson was efficient as ever, starting the rally with a 6-2, 6-2 win at #2 singles to tie things up. At #4 singles, Marquardt overcame a 3-4 deficit in set one, winning the final three points to take the set 6-4. She fell 2-6 in set two, but won the tiebreak 10-3 to give Northwestern its first lead of the day. Next off was
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) at #5 singles, who lost 2-6, 3-6 as Hamline evened the match at 3-3. Orvis put on a clinic at #1 singles, winning 6-1, 6-2 to put the Eagles back in front and one singles win away from the team victory.
They would not get it in the #6 match, as Baumgarn fell 3-6, 4-6. It all came down to
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) in the #3 singles match. Much like her brother did to clinch the men's team's win over Hamline, the junior left no doubt. A 6-3, 6-3 win gave Northwestern a 5-4 win over a good Hamline squad and upped its record to 11-7 on the season.
Match Two: Martin Luther College Knights
After a few hours off to rest up, the Eagles went back to work under the lights at the Johnson Tennis Complex, where they faced conference foe Martin Luther College in a match that did not count toward conference play. That was good news for the Knights, as Northwestern dominated from start to finish.
Annie Orvis (Rochester, Minn/Schaeffer Academy) and
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) were nearly perfect in their #1 doubles match, winning 8-1.
Abigail Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Madeline Troolin (Cambridge, Minn./Homeschool) were excellent as well in their 8-4 win at #3 doubles. The #2 doubles team of
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne) and
Analise Marquardt (Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie) took care of business as well via an 8-3 win to put UNW in front, 3-0.
Singles play produced more displays of excellence from the purple and gold. Orvis earned a 6-1, 6-4 win at #1 singles, followed by a 6-1, 6-1 win by Ross in the #5 spot.
Rayna Baumgarn (Holmen, Wis./Holmen) won 6-2, 6-2 at #6 singles and Johnson was victorious at #2 singles, 6-2, 6-1. Jarchow held it down at #3 singles with a 6-2, 6-3 win, then Marquardt finished off the 9-0 sweep with the only three-set match of the night, overcoming a 5-7 set one loss to win 6-1 in set two and 10-8 in the tiebreak.
Up Next
The 12-7 Eagles will continue their eight-match home stand Saturday with another doubleheader. First up will be an important conference battle with UMAC foe UW-Superior at 11:00 AM. At 5:00 PM, UNW will play a non-conference match with Crown College, who Northwestern defeated 9-0 last week. Sunny skies and warm temperatures are in the forecast so be sure to come on out and support your Eagles!
