The Ohio State women’s tennis team has seen both big wins and close losses throughout an inconsistent season, but this weekend could offer the Buckeyes an opportunity to solidify their place in the mix as they attempt to win the Big Ten Championship title.
“Right now, everyone’s been beating everyone, so there’s no clear leader,” said senior captain Sadhaf Pervez. “Basically, whoever shows up and plays their best could go home with the title. We’re going into battle and we’re armed and ready to win.”
The No. 5 seed Buckeyes hit the courts tomorrow, taking on No. 4 seed Purdue (12-10, 6-4 Big Ten) at the Big Ten Championship in Champaign, Ill. The Boilermakers took the win in their regular season meeting with OSU earlier this month in West Lafayette, Ind.
After finishing the season with a 4-3 loss to Iowa (7-12, 5-5 Big Ten) last weekend, No. 43 Ohio State closed with an overall standing of 12-10, going 6-4 in the conference.
“We’ve been a little inconsistent all season, but if everyone plays to their capabilities, we have a good shot at winning the tournament,” OSU coach Chuck Merzbacher said.
The No. 1 seed spot was captured by Minnesota, which posted a 9-1 record in conference play, while Illinois (15-6, 8-2 Big Ten) secured the No. 2 seed.
“Purdue has beaten us this season, but I think we can pull off a win against them and advance. We’ll be taking first things first though, because there are about six or seven teams I think are capable of winning,” Merzbacher said.
Although Northwestern (16-8, 8-2 Big Ten) is returning to defend its three-year league title, a clear leader has yet to emerge from the field. Teams like OSU are hoping that wins by association could act as an indicator of how well they will perform against some of their toughest competition.
In several of their most significant wins, the Buckeyes clinched victories over foes Michigan, Wisconsin and Northwestern. Meanwhile, Minnesota ran away with the win in its meeting with the reigning Big Ten Champion Wildcats. Because OSU defeated the Golden Gophers earlier this season, the Buckeyes expect to play well against the tournament’s other top teams.
“I think we all know we have the ability to beat any of the teams in the Big Ten,” said junior Lindsay Williams. “I like the matchups we’ll be seeing in the tournament.”
Williams expects Minnesota to be the biggest hurdle in Ohio State’s path to the championship game. The Golden Gophers – a possible second round matchup for OSU – handed the Buckeyes a 4-3 loss last weekend in a grueling competition.
“This season’s been disappointing at times, but we’ve been able to bounce back and recover. As long as we’re determined and focused this weekend, I think we have a chance at winning the Big Ten,” Williams said.
Pervez, who began the season with a 16-match winning streak at No. 1 singles before dropping her last six matches, remains confident that OSU will emerge victorious in her final year as a Buckeye.
“I think we’re going to run away with the doubles point, so we just need three people to step up and deliver in singles,” Pervez said. “The Big Ten tournament is a major part of our season. This is what we practice for.”
Pervez and Williams have dominated in No. 1 doubles, where they went 15-6 during the regular season and 6-4 in the Big Ten. On the singles front, Pervez posted a 17-5 dual record and a 6-4 score in conference play. She is just two victories shy of reaching the mark of 100 career-wins.
Contributing to OSU at second doubles duo are juniors Erica Fisk and Jackie Leskovar, who combined to score 15-7 in dual meets and 7-3 in the Big Ten. Leskovar, a transfer from North Carolina State, will also be playing at No. 3 singles, where she carries a Big Ten record of 7-3.
Merzbacher supports his team’s confidence heading into this weekend’s conference action, saying despite their setbacks this season, the Buckeyes possess the talent to steal the title.
“We have a really cohesive team that plays hard. We just haven’t had the consistency we want in certain spots,” he said. “We’ve had some great moments and played some great matches. We’re in the mix to win this tournament and go to NCAAs.”
A strong showing at the Big Ten Championship could earn the Buckeyes a berth in the NCAA Regional tournament, being held May 9-11 at a location to be announced. Ohio State has appeared in the last four NCAA tournaments and finished third in the Big Ten the last three years.
