Women's Tennis Falls to No. 21 Northwestern in NCAA First Round

Friday, May 7

Evanston, Ill.

4 PM ET

Xavier University

Northwestern

Women's Tennis Falls to No. 21 Northwestern in NCAA First Round

05.07.21 | Women's Tennis

Box Score Results (PDF)Photos

Musketeers finish season at 17-4; Ahmeir Kyle will move on to the NCAA Singles Championship

By: Hayley Schletker, Xavier Athletic Communications

EVANSTON, Ill. - Xavier women's tennis' season came to a close against No. 21 Northwestern, 4-0, in the NCAA Tournament First Round at the Vandy Christie Tennis Center.

Northwestern took the doubles point and won singles courts Nos. 1-3 in straight sets to take the match. NU will move on to face No. 10 Texas A&M.

Xavier finished the season at 17-4 overall, with a 6-0 mark against BIG EAST opponents, winning the program's second BIG EAST Championship and making the program's second-ever NCAA appearance. Senior Ahmeir Kyle will continue in NCAA Championship action in late May after earning a bid to the NCAA Singles Championship.

THE MATCH

Northwestern went ahead 1-0 with the doubles point after taking a 6-1 win on the No. 1 court against Ahmeir Kyle and Emily Thomas who were facing off with the No. 77 ranked pair of Julie Byrne and Clarissa Hand. The Wildcats then took the No. 3 court, 6-4, against Kaitlin Ruether and Kat Lyman to secure the point. Anna Roggenburk and Imani Graham were tied 5-5 on court No. 2 when the point was decided.

Northwestern's Maria Shusharina picked up a second point on the No. 1 singles court, 6-3, 6-4 against Ahmeir Kyle.

Anna Roggenburk faced Julie Byrne on the No. 3 court, falling 6-3, 6-0 to make it 3-0 Northwestern.

Kat Lyman faced the No. 120 ranked player Clarissa Hand on the No. 2 court, falling 6-3, 6-3 to set the final score at 4-0 Northwestern.

When the match was decided, Imani Graham had a lead in the second set after falling in the first on court No. 4, 6-4, 2-4. Kaitlin Ruether trailed 6-4, 5-1 on court five. Emily Thomas was tied in the second set after falling in set one, 6-2, 4-4, on court No. 6.

RESULTS

Singles competition
1. Maria Shusharina (NUW) def. #121 Ahmeir Kyle (XAV) 6-3, 6-4
2. #120 Clarissa Hand (NUW) def. Kat Lyman (XAV) 6-3, 6-3
3. Julie Byrne (NUW) def. Anna Roggenburk (XAV) 6-3, 6-0
4. Briana Crowley (NUW) vs. Imani Graham (XAV) 6-4, 2-4, unfinished
5. Caroline Pozo (NUW) vs. Kaitlin Ruether (XAV) 6-4, 5-1, unfinished
6. Christina Hand (NUW) vs. Emily Thomas (XAV) 6-2, 4-4, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. #77 Julie Byrne/Briana Crowley (NUW) def. Ahmeir Kyle/Emily Thomas (XAV) 6-1
2. Christina Hand/Clarissa Hand (NUW) vs. Anna Roggenburk/Imani Graham (XAV) 5-5, unfinished
3. Hannah McColgan/Caroline Pozo (NUW) def. Kaitlin Ruether/Kat Lyman (XAV) 6-4

Match Notes:
Xavier 17-4
Northwestern 19-5; National ranking #21
Order of finish: Doubles (1,3); Singles (1,3,2)

PHOTOS