April 10, 2014
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IOWA SET FOR A PAIR OF ROAD MATCHES
Iowa travels to the land of Lincoln this weekend to face a pair of ranked conference opponents. The Hawkeyes take on No. 42 Illinois (10-8, 3-4) on Saturday before facing No. 12 Northwestern (12-6, 6-1) on Sunday.
SCOUTING THE ILLINI
Illinois enters Saturday’s contest riding a two-game losing streak after falling to Michigan State, 4-3, on April 5 and No. 17 Michigan, 7-0, on April 8. The Illini have faced a total of eight ranked opponents over the course of the season, posting victories over No. 25 TCU and No. 36 Yale. Illinois is led in singles by a pair of freshmen in Alexis Casati (13-4) and Louise Kwong (12-5). Illini lead the all-time series by one match, 25-24.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Northwestern, second in the Big Ten at 12-6 (6-1), is coming off a weekend where it suffered its first conference loss of the season in a 4-3 losing effort against No. 17 Michigan on April 5. The 12th-ranked Wildcats have faced 16 ranked teams this season, going 3-6 against top-20 teams. Northwestern features two ranked players in Veronica Corning (34) and Belinda Niu (40). In last year’s meeting, the Wildcats topped the Hawkeyes, 5-2.
SEABORNE AND McCULLOCH REMAIN UNDEFEATED IN CONFERENCE PLAY
Iowa’s top doubles team of senior Ruth Seaborne and junior Morven McCulloch recorded their ninth-straight victory on April 6 with a win against Indiana’s Katie Kyczeck and Corlyn Chupa, 8-6. The victory pushed the tandem’s record to 13-2 at No. 1 doubles and kept their undefeated record in conference play in tact (6-0). On Sunday, Seaborne and McCulloch take on the No. 29 doubles team in Northwestern’s Veronica Corning and Alicia Barnett (18-9, 4-3).
IOWA IN GOOD SHAPE AT TOP OF THE LINEUP
The Hawkeyes are a combined 33-20 (.622) at the top three singles positions, going 13-5 and 11-6 at the No. 1 and No. 3 slots, respectively.
SEABORNE GETS IT DONE ON THE ROAD
Seaborne has won seven road contests in a row and posts an overall singles record of 7-1 in matches away from Iowa City. Her only blemish came against Oklahoma’s Hermon Brhane on Jan. 31.
DOUBLES PROVE TO BE CRITICAL
The Hawkeyes are 8-3 when winning the doubles point this year. Iowa is 0-7 when losing the doubles point.
COMING UP FOR THE HAWKEYES
The Hawkeyes host their final two home matches of the season next weekend. On April 18, Iowa squares off against the Buckeyes of Ohio State (14-7, 4-3) at 3 p.m. (CT). They follow up with a Senior Day contest against Penn State (5-14, 1-6) on April 20 at 10 a.m. (CT).
BECOME A FAN
Fans can follow the Iowa women’s tennis team at facebook.com and via twitter @Iowa_Tennis. Live results from this weekend are available on the Iowa women’s tennis schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.