MADISON, Wis. – The University of Chicago women's tennis team started the Midwest Invitational with a pair of 8-1 victories over DePauw University and Denison University on Friday.
The No. 9-ranked Maroons (8-4 record) are the top seed in the eight-team bracket and are seeking their fourth-straight Midwest Invite title.
Additionally, Head Coach Jay Tee picked up his 100th career victory as the leader of the women's program. The Maroons have posted a 101-49 dual record over his seven years.
UChicago kicked off the morning session with DePauw. The two sides previously met on February 8, with the Maroons sweeping the Tiger 9-0 in Greencastle, Ind.
This time around, UChicago led 2-1 after doubles with wins at No. 1 and No. 3. The top pairing of sophomore Catherine Xu and first-year Eugenia Lee triumphed 8-4 while first-years Lainey Axell and Nicole Semenov earned an 8-5 win.
UChicago rolled through singles play shortly after, winning all six in straight sets. The top spot featured the closest match, with junior Marjorie Antohi winning 7-5, 7-6. First-year Lauren Park recorded a shutout of 6-0, 6-0 at No. 3, while first-year Annika Pandey only surrendered two total games (6-1, 6-1) at No. 6.
The afternoon semifinal came against Denison University in a rematch of their February 9 contest, which UChicago won 8-1. That result repeated itself on Friday. UChicago battled in doubles and pulled out a pair of 8-7 tiebreak wins at No. 1 and No. 2. Third doubles rolled through by an 8-2 margin.
In singles, Park and Semenov only allowed three games between them at No. 3 and No. 5, respectively. Denison won the No. 4 spot in a third-set super tiebreak, but the Maroons snagged the remaining matches.
"The women had a very strong day and made great strides from the beginning of the day to the end," Tee said. "I thought our focus and energy throughout the 11-hour day was some of the best I've seen all year and helped us get through some of the fatigue towards the end. We're really looking forward to playing a hot Kenyon team tomorrow and testing ourselves against another quality opponent."
UChicago 8, DePauw 1
Singles
1. Marjorie Antohi (UC) def. Megan Galle (DPU) 7-5, 7-6 (7-0)
2. Catherine Xu (UC) def. Amanda Showalter (DPU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Lauren Park (UC) def. Colleen Morris (DPU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Eugenia Lee (UC) def. Sarah Wilder (DPU) 6-3, 6-1
5. Nicole Semenov (UC) def. Emma Love (DPU) 6-1, 6-4
6. Annika Pandey (UC) def. Ali Bush (DPUW) 6-1, 6-1
Doubles
1. Catherine Xu/Eugenia Lee (UC) def. Megan Galle/Sarah Wilder (DPU) 8-4
2. Colleen Morris/Emma Love (DPU) def. Marjorie Antohi/Lauren Park (UC) 8-4
3. Lainey Axell/Nicole Semenov (UC) def. Amanda Showalter/Erin Friedrich (DPU) 8-5
UChicago 8, Denison 1
Singles
1. Marjorie Antohi (UC) def. Lauren Hawley (DEN) 6-2, 6-4
2. Catherine Xu (UC) def. Emma Alsup (DEN) 6-3, 6-4
3. Lauren Park (UC) def. Alex Cash (DEN) 6-2, 6-0
4. Hannah Cianciola (DEN) def. Eugenia Lee (UC) 6-1, 1-6, 10-7
5. Nicole Semenov (UC) def. Megan Hickey (DEN) 6-1, 6-0
6. Annika Pandey (UC) def. Ashley Hammons (DEN) 6-2, 6-3
Doubles
1. Catherine Xu/Eugenia Lee (UC) def. Lauren Hawley/Emma Alsup (DEN) 8-7 (10-2)
2. Marjorie Antohi/Lauren Park (UC) def. Alex Cash/Hannah Cianciola (DEN) 8-7 (10-3)
3. Lainey Axell/Nicole Semenov (UC) def. Megan Hickey/Ashley Hammons (DEN) 8-2
NEXT MATCH:
- Saturday, April 6 @ 10:30 AM – UChicago vs. Kenyon College (at Midwest Invite / Madison, Wis.)
