MADISON, Wis. – After an encouraging start to the 2026 season last weekend, the University of Northwestern Women's Tennis team was back in action Saturday for a double-dip of action in Wisconsin. The Eagles struggled to get going without captain
Aby Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) in the lineup once again, losing 0-7 to Edgewood University in the AM and 1-6 to Loras College in the PM.
Match One: Edgewood University Eagles
The morning match did not go Northwestern's way as they lost all nine matches against another team of Eagles.
Abby Cimenski (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) and
Macie Ruddy (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) lost 0-6 at No. 3 doubles, while the No. 1 team of
Sarah Langridge (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) and
Rein Hayashi (Kyoto, Japan/Kansai Christian School) lost 1-6. At No. 2 doubles,
Hannah Hyttsten (Becker, Minn./Becker) and
Anne Clarke (Granite Falls, Minn./Yellow Medicine East) put up a good fight, but ultimately lost, 3-6.
In singles, Ruddy lost 1-6, 0-6 at No. 6, while Langridge fell 1-6, 1-6 in the No. 1 match. Hyttsten and Cimenski suffered 2-6, 2-6 defeats at No. 3 and 5, respectively, while Clarke was more competitive with a 5-7, 3-6 loss in the No. 4 slot. The tightest singles match of the day was at No. 2, where reigning UMAC Player of the Week
Rein Hayashi (Kyoto, Japan/Kansai Christian School) lost by a 4-6, 6-7 (3-7) margin.
Match Two: Loras College Duhawks
While it still took a loss on the schedule, Northwestern's afternoon tilt with Loras went much better than the Edgewood match. After the No. 3 doubles team of
Abby Cimenski (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) and
Macie Ruddy (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) lost 1-6 to begin the session,
Sarah Langridge (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) and
Rein Hayashi (Kyoto, Japan/Kansai Christian School) claimed a 6-2 win in the No. 1 match. With the doubles point on the line, UNW's No. 2 team of
Hannah Hyttsten (Becker, Minn./Becker) and
Anne Clarke (Granite Falls, Minn./Yellow Medicine East) came up short, losing by a 2-6 score.
Langridge struggled in her No. 1 singles match, losing 1-6, 1-6, and Ruddie lost at No. 6 by a 3-6, 1-6 score. At No. 5, Cimenski suffered a 3-6, 2-6 defeat, and Hyttsten took a 2-6, 5-7 loss in the No. 3 slot. The Eagles' lone point came from Hayashi, who continued her solid start to her career with a 6-4, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles. The match wrapped up with Clarke at No. 4, who battled to a tiebreak before ultimately falling 7-5, 2-6, 7-10.
Up Next
Northwestern will continue to search for its first win of the season on Saturday, February 14
th when it squares off with Saint Mary's and Dubuque at the White Bear Lake Life Time Fitness.
