COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 2 Ohio State women’s tennis team took down Northwestern, 5-2, at home in Columbus Saturday in the Varsity Tennis Center. The Buckeyes improve to 9-3 this season, with a 2-0 Big Ten record, with the No. 29 Wildcats moving to 5-6 and 1-1 in league action.
Coming from behind after losing the doubles point, the Buckeyes took over in singles to claim the victory with wins from Kolie Allen, Danielle Wolf, Luna Dormet, Irina Cantos Siemers and Shiori Fukuda.
Up Next
The Buckeyes will next host the two teams from up north, Michigan State and Michigan, in Big Ten play. Ohio State will face Michigan State at 6 p.m. March 13 in the Varsity Tennis Center and Michigan at noon March 15, either at the indoor Varsity Tennis Center or the outdoor Varsity Tennis Courts. Admission is free at either location. (Live Stats and Live Video)
The last time the Buckeyes faced the Spartans, Ohio State won 4-1 in East Lansing, Mich. The Scarlet and Gray had wins from courts one and two in doubles to clinch the doubles point. Fukuda, Wolf and Allen won in singles to clinch the Buckeye win.
The Buckeyes and Wolverines met earlier this season at ITA Indoors in Chicago, with Ohio State prevailing, 4-3. Against the Wolverines last year in the regular season, the Buckeyes fell 4-1 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Quoting Buckeye head coach Melissa Schaub
“We are really happy with the win today. Northwestern is a tough team and they have had our number for the last couple of years. We played strong in singles and I thought we played really tough when we needed to. I’m happy with our group today and now we will look to Michigan State on Friday night.”
Quoting Buckeye senior Danielle Wolf
“I am really proud of the team today. After losing the doubles point, we came out in singles and took care of business. It’s not easy playing with the pressure of having No. 2 next to your name, but pressure is a privilege and we will keep getting better at playing with it. We have earned the target on our back. We are excited the Big Ten season is here and we are ready. Northwestern is a big win for us.”
In Doubles
The Buckeyes dropped the doubles point, with Northwestern claiming courts one and two.
The Wildcats’ Julie Byrne and Hannah McColgan earned the early lead after beating No. 61 Kolie Allen and Irina Cantos Siemers, 6-1, on court one.
Jumping to court two, Buckeyes Shiori Fukuda and Luna Dormet fell to Clarissa Hand and Caroline Pozo, 6-3, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 lead into singles play.
Isabelle Boulais and Danielle Wolf’s match was left unfinished, with the Buckeye duo leading 5-2 against Northwestern’s Inci Ogut and Christina Hand.
In Singles
Coming from behind, the Buckeyes had to get to work in singles. Kolie Allen started the chain effect on court four, taking down Northwestern’s Caroline Pozo, 6-3, 6-0. Allen tied the score for a 1-1 match.
Giving Ohio State the 2-1 lead and momentum, No. 62 Danielle Wolf topped the Wildcats’ Inci Ogut on court two, 6-4, 6-2. Luna Dormet followed, claiming court 6 against Christina Hand of Northwestern, 6-4, 6-1.
Northwestern’s Clarissa Hand earned court three with a 6-7 (3), 6-4 win against Isabelle Boulais, leaving the match at 3-2.
Courts one and five then were headed to a third set. No. 73-ranked freshman Irina Cantos Siemers started down after dropping her first set, 5-7, against Hannah McColgan. Cantos Siemers turned it around, winning her second, 6-2, and solidifying the win with a 6-1 third set.
No. 11 Shiori Fukuda won her first set against No. 58 Julie Byrne, 6-3, on court one. Bryne shot back, winning the second set 6-3, forcing the two into the third set. Fukuda refused to go down, snatching the third set, 6-3, and bringing the Buckeyes to a 5-2 Big Ten win against the Wildcats.
Tennis Match Results
Northwestern vs Ohio State
Mar 07, 2020 at Columbus, Ohio
(Varsity Tennis Center)
#2 Ohio State 5, #29 Northwestern 2
Singles competition
Doubles competition
Match Notes:
Northwestern 5-6 (1-1 B1G); National ranking #29
Ohio State 9-3 (2-0 B1G); National ranking #2
Order of finish: Doubles (1,2); Singles (4,2,6,3,5,1)
