March 10, 2004

WOMEN'S COLLEGIATE TENNIS--- Northern Illinois University at University of Calfornia-San Diego / at San Diego, CA / Northview Tennis Courts / Non-Conference Match / Wednesday / March 10, 2004

NORTHERN ILLINOIS 6 UC-SAN DIEGO 3

Singles
1. Cassie Drake (NIU) def. Jasmin Dao (UCSD) 6-4, 6-2
2. Branka Savic (NIU) def. Leigh Roberts (UCSD) 6-1, 6-3
3. Karrie Tyioran (NIU) def. Tara Siddiqui (UCSD) 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4)
4. Marissa Hiker (UCSD) def. Ivonne Andrade (NIU) 6-4, 7-5
5. Kristina Jansen (UCSD) def. Kristi McIntyre (NIU) 6-0, 6-2
6. Daniela Martinez (NIU) def. Katie McKee (UCSD) 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (11-9)

Doubles
1. Savic/Andrade (NIU) def. Julie Westerman/Dao, 8-3
2. Tyioran/Drake (NIU) def. Kristin Bronowicki/Siddiqui, 8-4
3. McKee/Roberts (UCSD) def. McIntyre/Brooks (NIU) 9-8 (1)

RECORDS TO DATE: Northern Illinois now 4-4 overall / UCSD now 8-4 overall
NEXT HUSKIE ACTION: Thursday, March 18 / NIU at University of Illiinois-Chicago / Evergreen Park, IL / 12:00 p.m.

Huskie women's tennis gets back to .500 with victory at the University of California-San Diego
SAN DIEGO, CA---The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team put an end to a two-match losing skid on Wednesday (March 10) when they defeated the University of California-San Diego 6-3. The win leveled the Huskie ledger at 4-4, while the Tritons lost their second straight and fell to 8-4. Entering the match, UCSD held the No. 20 ranking in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's NCAA Division II rankings.

"Especially with us not being outdoors since September, it was really a tribute for the girls to come out and play this well," Huskie head coach Laura Scott said. "UC-San Diego is a good team, they are ranked nationally in Division II and recently defeated Villanova University of the Big East Conference."

With the match being hosted by a Division II opponent all matches--both singles and doubles--counted for points. On the doubles court, NIU took two of three from the Tritons, led by Ivonne Andrade (San Luis Potosi, Mexico / Instituto Lomos del Real) and Branka Savic (Geelong, Australia / North Geelong Secondary) as they scored an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles. Senior Karrie Tyioran (Oswego) and junior Cassie Drake (Stilwell, KS / Shawnee Mission South) also tallied a victory, an 8-4 triumph at No. 2 doubles.

"Our girls did an excellent job of keeping their focus on the court out here in California," Scott added. "Coming out here lots of things can distract, but the girls have really taken care of themselves and kept on task."

The Huskies kept that focus in singles action, taking four of six matches from UCSD. Drake and Savic both scored straight set victories in the top two singles slots, with Tyioran needed a third session to defeat Tara Siddiqui, 7-5, 3-6, 1-0 (10-4). Andrade dropped a 6-4, 7-5 decision at No. 4 singles, while Kristi McIntyre (Grand Bend, Ontario / North Lambton Secondary) fell 6-0, 6-2 at No. 5. Daniela Martinez (Mexico City, Mexico / Colegio Eton) rounded out the Huskie scorecard with a hard fought 6-3, 1-6, 1-0 (11-9) win at No. 6 singles.

Northern Illinois returns to the Midwest for a date with in-state rival Illinois-Chicago on Thursday (March 18). The match will take place at the Evergreen Racquet and Fitness Club in Evergreen Park, IL with the first serve set for 12 p.m.

--Copy by Matt Baylor