No. 12 Buckeyes on to B1G Final after 4-1 Win over Northwestern

Saturday, April 27

Ann Arbor, Mich.

2 PM

Ohio State

Northwestern (Semifinals)

Ohio State women's tennis defeats Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals April 27, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Photo by: David Donoher

No. 12 Buckeyes on to B1G Final after 4-1 Win over Northwestern

4/27/2024 6:18:00 PM | Women's Tennis

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No. 2 seed Ohio State will take on No. 1 Michigan Sunday for the tournament title

COLUMBUS, Ohio – With singles wins from three freshmen and graduate student captain Irina Cantos Siemers, the No. 12 Ohio State women's tennis team defeated Northwestern, 4-1, in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday.

After the Buckeyes dropped the doubles point against Northwestern to open the semifinals, Ohio State captured all six first sets. Luciana Perry, Teah Chavez, Irina Cantos Siemers and Audrey Spencer each won in straight sets for the team victory. Perry and Cantos Siemers also paired up for a doubles win.

The No. 2 seed Buckeyes, on a 12-match winning streak and 19-6 this spring, will take on No. 1 seed and No. 2-ranked Michigan at noon Sunday in the championship match. The match will be streamed through B1G+ and live statistics will be available. This is the fourth tournament in a row the teams will meet in the final. Michigan won the last two years, with Ohio State taking home the 2021 crown. Ohio State also captured the tournament title with wins over the Wolverines in 2016 and 2017. In the regular season, Michigan defeated Ohio State in Columbus, 4-1, March 15. Tournament Central

How it Happened

The Buckeyes won the first doubles match, but Northwestern took courts two and three with 7-5 scores for the doubles point.
On court one, the Buckeyes' No. 31-ranked duo of Irina Cantos Siemers and Luciana Perry defeated Christina Hand and Justine Leong, 6-2, winning the final five games.
Ohio State rebounded by taking all six first sets in singles, including two in a tiebreak.
Perry put the Buckeyes up 2-0, as she rolled to a 6-3, 6-0 win over Leong on court two. Her match was complete before some of the other first sets had wrapped up.
Teah Chavez followed with a 6-0, 6-2 win against Kiley Rabjohns on court five, putting Ohio State ahead 2-1.
On court one, Cantos Siemers took the first set against Maria Shusharina, 6-2. In the second set, Cantos Siemers was down a break but won three games in a row to move ahead 4-3 and went on to win 6-4.
Two Buckeyes were within a game of clinching at the same time, with Audrey Spencer providing the fourth point.
On six five against Neena Feldman, Spencer prevailed in a tiebreak in the first set, 7-6 (6). In the second, she won five of the last six games for a 6-2 win.
Shelly Bereznak was up 6-3, 5-2 on court four vs. Sydney Pratt when the match was clinched.
Sydni Ratliff's court three match vs. Christina Hand was abandoned with the Buckeye ahead, 7-6 (3), 3-2.
Cantos Siemers is a team-best 16-4 this spring, with Perry notching 12 wins and Spencer winning 11 matches. Chavez has eight wins in dual play. Perry and Cantos Siemers have combined for a 7-1 doubles record in dual matches.

The Results
Northwestern vs Ohio State
4/27/2024 at Ann Arbor, Mich.
(Varsity Tennis Center)

#12 Ohio State 4, #34 Northwestern 1

Singles competition
1. #18 Irina Cantos Siemers (OSU) def. Maria Shusharina (NUW) 6-2, 6-4
2. #53 Luciana Perry (OSU) def. Justine Leong (NUW) 6-3, 6-0
3. #115 Sydni Ratliff (OSU) vs. Christina Hand (NUW) 7-6 (7-3), 3-2, unfinished
4. Shelly Bereznyak (OSU) vs. Sydney Pratt (NUW) 6-3, 5-2, unfinished
5. Teah Chavez (OSU) def. Kiley Rabjohns (NUW) 6-0, 6-2
6. Audrey Spencer (OSU) def. Neena Feldman (NUW) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2

Doubles competition
1. #31 Irina Cantos Siemers/Luciana Perry (OSU) def. Christina Hand/Justine Leong (NUW) 6-2
2. Neena Feldman/Sydney Pratt (NUW) def. Sydni Ratliff/Audrey Spencer (OSU) 7-5
3. Maria Shusharina/Britany Lau (NUW) def. Madeline Atway/Teah Chavez (OSU) 7-5

Match Notes:
Northwestern 19-7; National ranking #34
Ohio State 19-6; National ranking #12
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2,3); Singles (2,5,1,6)
Big Ten Tournament semifinal
Ohio State No. 2 seed, Northwestern No. 3
T-2:40