Northwestern's women's tennis head coach, Claire Pollard, has been a driving force in the sport for 26 seasons. In this article, we take a deep dive into the fall season and what it holds for the upcoming dual season.

Uncover the Insights of Northwestern's Tennis Season with Claire Pollard

1. The Complexity of Fall Season Decision-Making

During the dual season, a set schedule exists. However, it is the coaching staff's responsibility to determine where each player will compete in the fall. As Pollard humorously mentioned, one might question their sanity when witnessing the amount of time dedicated to these decisions. The individual NCAA Tournament's move to the fall this year added a new layer of complexity. Considerations such as a player's need to win, be challenged, or have a chance at the NCAAs led to players being sent to various cities across the country, including Fort Worth, Texas, East Lansing, Michigan, and Nashville. "We spent countless hours thinking about what was best for everyone," Pollard said. "It was truly a challenging yet fun process."

Each decision was made with the utmost care, aiming to maximize each player's potential and give them the best opportunity to succeed.

2. The Rise of an Improbable Doubles Team

Deciding which players would pair up for doubles was another task for the coaching staff. Britany Lau, a graduate student who led the team with 19 doubles wins last season, and freshman Mika Dagan Fruchtman formed an unexpected and highly successful partnership. Pollard often changes her doubles teams to assess who plays well together in the early fall. Lau and Dagan Fruchtman's chemistry was immediate. "When we saw Brit and Mika together, we all knew we might have something special," Pollard said. "Their playstyles complemented each other perfectly."

The duo reached the semifinals in both the ITA Regional Championship and the ITA Sectional Championship and were named alternates for the NCAA Doubles Tournament. Their success was a testament to their hard work and ability to gel as a team.

3. Veterans Shine in the Fall

Lau's success wasn't limited to doubles. She was the only Northwestern player to qualify for the ITA Sectional Championship in singles, reaching the second round and putting up a tough fight against a top 60 player. Pollard had high praise for the sixth-year athlete. "Brit has come back a completely different player this year. If there's an MVP of the fall, it's definitely her. Her attacking mentality and aggressiveness have taken her game to a whole new level," Pollard said.

Senior Kiley Rabjohns also earned Big Ten Player of the Week honors after a strong performance at the Spartan Invite. "This girl gives her all for the game and the team. We need to manage her carefully to ensure she performs at her best," Pollard said.

Senior Sydney Pratt, who was the team's No. 4 singles player last year and a highly ranked returner, is determined to have her best season ever.

4. The Team's Talent Pool

While Lau was named the fall season MVP, it was freshman Maia Loureiro who led the team in singles victories with nine. "She showed great potential and embraced the changes we made to her game this summer. She's a coachable and eager learner," Pollard said.

Beyond Loureiro, the team's depth was on full display. Sophomore Neena Feldman, who played in the No. 2 doubles last season, had a 3-0 singles record at the June Stewart Invitational. Freshman Erica Jessel reached the singles round of 16 at the ITA Regional Championship, defeating a seeded player.

Pollard was impressed with the team's overall talent. "We're deeper than we've ever been. This is a special group that has the potential to achieve great things."

5. High Expectations for the Dual Season

With the fall season complete, Pollard is yet to make decisions about the dual season lineup. "It's a tough decision with so many talented players. We have 10 deep, and choosing the right combination will be challenging," Pollard said.

Last season, Northwestern was a bubble NCAA Tournament team. Pollard hopes the team can avoid that fate and have an even better 2025 campaign. She believes the team's ability to win the doubles point and its depth will be key factors in their performance.

"We don't want to be ranked in the 30s, worrying about making the NCAAs. Our goal is to be between 15 and 25, and I think the work we did in the fall will help us get there," Pollard said.