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URBANA, Ill. – Illinois Women's Tennis is set for its final of four February contests from the Atkins Tennis Center as Northwestern comes to town for for the first time since 2014 for a Friday, Feb. 26, match slated for 6 p.m. CT. The Wildcats enter the contest with a 1-5 record while the Illini are 4-4.
Last season's regular season match between the Illini and Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois, marked the 58th match up all-time between the two programs. Illinois fell in a 6-1 decision in the contest with Alexis Casati picking up the Illini tally at No. 1 singles.
The Orange and Blue also drew Northwestern as their first match in the Big Ten Tournament last season. Illinois, the sixth-seed, and third-seeded Northwestern played a contest that spanned six hours and took place both outdoors and indoors before a 3-1 lead slipped away from the Illini and the Wildcats claimed a 4-3 victory on their home courts in Evanston. Illinois picked up the doubles point and saw Jade Hilton and Madie Baillon grab individual victories.
Northwestern marks the sixth ranked opponent the Illini will face this season. The Wildcats enter the weekend contest ranked at No. 53 in the latest rankings. The Illini will hold a No. 59 ranking entering the match.
In the most recent rankings, Northwestern landed a pair of doubles tandems in the top 60. Lipp and Chatt rank 13th, while Barnett and Larner come in at 43rd. On the singles side, the Wildcats and Illini each sport a ranked individual. For NU, Maddie Lipp ranks 35th, while Louise Kwong appeared in the rankings for the first time this season at No. 113 for the Orange and Blue. Both individuals have been making appearances at No. 1 singles this season.
As a team, Illinois holds a 17-3 record on the doubles courts this dual season and has won the doubles point in seven of eight contests this spring.
Looking ahead, Illinois will hit the road for five-consecutive contests away from the Atkins Tennis Center spanning the month of March. First up, is a weekend in Madison, Wisconsin, where the Orange and Blue will play the Badgers in a non-conference matchup on March 4 followed by a contest against William and Mary the following afternoon.
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