May 20, 2011
STANFORD, Calif.- No. 2 Stanford (25-0) battles No. 16 Northwestern (22-7) on Friday at 6 p.m. in the NCAA Championships Round of 16 at Taube Family Tennis Stadium.
Making its 30th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance, Stanford is attempting to defend its 2010 national championship.
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Stanford has been awarded the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason despite being ranked No. 2 in the latest edition of the national ITA rankings behind Florida. A curious spot considering the Cardinal defeated the Gators 4-2 to claim the National Team Indoor Championships crown back on Feb. 21.
However, there is essentially no argument that Stanford has been the best team in the country to date. The Cardinal is the only unbeaten team in Division I and has won 44 consecutive contests overall dating back to its last loss, a 6-1 setback at UCLA on Feb. 26, 2010.
Last weekend's victories over Illinois-Chicago (4-0) and Pepperdine (4-0) were the latest victims in Stanford's eye-popping streak at the Taube Family Tennis Stadium. With those wins, Stanford extended its NCAA-record home winning streak to an unthinkable 181 matches (147 regular season, 34 NCAA Tournament). The Cardinal has not lost a dual on its home court since Feb. 27, 1999, when No. 4 California pulled a 5-4 upset. Simply put, playing on its home court should provide a decisive advantage.
And it's not the Cardinal hasn't been tested. Playing in the ultra-competitive Pac-10, Stanford owns sweeps over fellow NCAA round of 16 participants California and UCLA while breezing past nationally-ranked foes Arkansas, Michigan and North Carolina back in February before taking down Florida.
Head coach Lele Forood's career record currently stands at a gaudy 284-16. She oversees the most successful program in NCAA history, as Stanford has captured 17 team titles (16 NCAA, 1 AIAW).
Forood's lineup is loaded with depth. Three-time All-American senior Hilary Barte, ranked No. 3 in the country, is 27-5 overall and 16-4 in duals while playing at the No. 1 spot. Perhaps she hasn't enjoyed the dominance of previous seasons, but it would be foolish to dismiss a talented senior playing her final matches at home.
Mallory Burdette is a quality No. 2, posting a 23-7 record at that spot. All she did as a freshman last year was clinch Stanford's national championship in a tough three-setter.
Freshmen Nicole Gibbs and Kristie Ahn are a combined 75-8 overall and 42-0 in duals while alternating at the Nos. 3 and 4 positions. Talented enough to play No. 1 or 2 for any other team, the rookie duo has steamrolled opponents this year and now must be included in the conversation when talking about the nation's top-20 players. Ahn did not play last weekend in Stanford's victories while rehabbing an injury but she is expected to return for upcoming action.
Playing together for the first time, Barte and Burdette make up the nation's No. 3 doubles team at 22-6 overall and 14-3 in duals. Ahn and Gibbs form the No. 2 squad while Carolyn McVeigh and Stacey Tan have notched a 12-2 dual match record playing at No. 3. McVeigh and Tan were key contributors during last year's title run, so that's an experienced team playing on court three.