ST. PAUL, Minn. – The University of Northwestern Women's Tennis team faced a tough road test on Monday, taking on the 62
nd-ranked St. Catherine University Wildcats. St. Kate's lived up to its billing as short-handed UNW suffered a 1-6 defeat, playing without its No. 3 player,
Elise Jarchow (Luverne, Minn./Luverne).
Sisters
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) and
Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) teamed up for the first time in a while at No. 1 doubles, but lost 1-6. Freshmen Isablle Sullivan and
Hannah Hyttsten (Becker, Minn./Becker) also lost 1-6 at No. 3 to give the Wildcats the doubles point, but
Aby Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) and
Caitlyn Swigart (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) gave Northwestern some momentum heading into singles play with a 6-4 victory at No. 2 doubles.
That momentum would not be sustainable, as St. Catherine took the first five singles matches.
Abby Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) and
Isabelle Sullivan (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) each lost 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 and No. 5, respectively. Swigart fell 2-6, 1-6 at No. 4 singles, while Ross suffered a 2-6, 1-6 defeat in the No. 3 match, where she replaced Jarchow.
Yerly Rothwell's (Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg Area) 2-6, 2-6 loss at No. 6 was the Eagles' final one of the day, as
Paige Johnson (Zimmerman, Minn./Homeschool) closed out the match on a high note. The sophomore won an exciting match, 6-1, 4-6, 10-3 to avoid the sweep.
UNW will begin conference play on Saturday, when it travels to Bethany Lutheran for a 10:00 AM match. The Eagles will then head to Crown for a 3:00 PM match that will not count toward conference play.
