ORLANDO, Fla. – After a long break since its last action in February, the University of Northwestern Tennis team was finally back in action Monday in the Sunshine State for its annual Spring Break trip. UNW ran into a buzzsaw of a Cornell College team in the morning, falling 1-6, before bouncing back with a dominant, 7-0 win over Oglethorpe University to finish off day one in Florida.
Match One: Cornell College Rams
The Eagles were up bright and early to take on the 13-3 Cornell Rams. Switching up from the usual order of operations, the teams played singles matches before doubles. The Rams took advantage of the number of points on the table, sweeping the matches to clinch the win.
Abby Cimenski (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) had the tightest match at No. 5, winning the first set 6-3 before a 0-6 loss in the second forced a tiebreak. Unfortunately for UNW, the freshman lost a tight one, 8-10.
Sarah Langridge (Savage, Minn./Prior Lake) took a few sets off her opponent in a 3-6, 2-6 loss at No. 2 singles, while
Anne Clarke (Granite Falls, Minn./Yellow Medicine East) fell 1-6, 4-6 at No. 6. In the No. 1 match,
Rein Hayashi (Kyoto, Japan/Kansai Christian School) suffered a 1-6, 3-6 defeat, and
Aby Ross (Chico, Calif./Central) took a 0-6, 1-6 loss at No. 3.
Hannah Hyttsten (Becker, Minn./Becker) was unable to get much going, as she was swept 0-6, 0-6 at No. 4 singles.
To their credit, the Eagles fought back to win the doubles point and avoid a sweep. Cimenski continued her strong outing by teaming up with
Macie Ruddy (Coon Rapids, Minn./Coon Rapids) for a 6-3 win in the No. 3 match, but Langridge and Ross fell 4-6 at No. 1. The fate of the doubles point came down to the No. 2 team of Hyttsten and Clarke, who came through with a 6-4 win to make it a 1-6 final score.
Match Two: Oglethorpe University Stormy Petrels
After a tough morning session, UNW came out firing in the afternoon against Oglethorpe University. The Eagles swept doubles to take a 1-0 lead, getting a 6-1 win from the No. 3 team of Cimenski and Ruddy, a 6-2 win at No. 2 from Ross and Clarke, and a 6-4 victory in the No. 1 match, courtesy of Hayashi and Langridge.
Northwestern kept its foot on the gas as singles matches began, getting a 6-0, 6-0 sweep from Langridge at No. 2. Hayashi earned a 6-2, 6-0 win at No. 1 singles, while Hyttsten took home a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the No. 4 slot. Cimenski capped off a terrific day with a 6-1, 6-2 win in the No. 5 match, and Clarke emerged with a 6-3, 6-2 win at No. 6. Ross finished off the 7-0 sweep woth a 6-3, 6-3 win at No. 3 singles.
Up Next
UNW will return to the court Tuesday evening, taking on Covenant College (GA) at 5:00 PM CT in Orlando.
