March 8, 2007
DeKalb, Ill. - The Huskies women's tennis team was unable to win their third straight match for the second time this season, dropping a 5-2 decision to the University of Illinois-Chicago (2-5). Earlier this year NIU (4-2) beat the University of Chicago and Eastern Illinois before losing to Marquette. Coming into the match NIU had beaten Connecticut and Western Illinois.
NIU's doubles play had been cruising as of late, winning their last six matches, but they went 1-2 against the Flames. The lone win for the Huskies came from Lilian Asuaje and Nao Umemura's 9-8, (9) triumph over UIC's Lubica Nadasska and Ulrikke von Ubisch.
In singles play, it looked as if the Huskies were making a charge when Lilian Asuaje and Jenny Edner won their matches at the one and two spots, respectively. Asuaje defeated the Flames' Callan Smith 6-4, 7-5 and Edner beat UIC's Nadasska 6-3, 6-3. However, the Huskies' momentum was short-lived. At the third spot, Umemura dropped her match to UIC's Grace Gill-Morlis 3-6, 7-6, (3). Then, in the fourth spot, Brooke Forsberg lost to the Flames' Christina Oum 6-4, 6-0. It all went downhill after that. The Huskies lost their last two matches in straight sets to give UIC the win.
NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell was pleased with the effort from his team, despite the results, and feels his team is continuing to progress.
"This is one of those matches that if you must lose, you do not mind," said Ferrell. "In the game of tennis, you can learn nothing if you win, but if you lose, lose a battle like this, lay it on the line for four hours, give blood sweat and tears, you can learn a ton. We are not happy, but we have little chip on our shoulder which we will take out on the next team."
The next team the Huskies will try to take out will be the University of Northern Iowa Panthers (6-0) tomorrow at 3p.m at home.
-NIU-
Results
Doubles
1) Christina Oum / Callan Smith (UIC) def. Megan Brooks / Brooke Forsberg (NIU) 9-8 (9)
2) Lilian Asuaje / Nao Umemura (NIU) def. Lubica Nadasska / Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) 8-6
3) Grace Gill-Morlis / Jenna Reisch (UIC) def. Dora Delgadillo / Jenny Edner (NIU) 8-4
Singles
1) Lilian Asuaje (NIU) def. Callan Smith (UIC) 6-4, 7-5
2) Jenny Edner (NIU) def. Lubica Nadasska (UIC) 6-3, 6-3
3) Grace Gill-Morlis (UIC) def. Nao Umemura (NIU) 3-6, 7-6, (3)
4) Christina Oum (UIC) def. Brooke Forsberg (NIU) 6-4, 6-0
5) Ulrikke von Ubisch (UIC) def. Dora Delgadillo (NIU) 7-5, 7-5
6) Jenna Reisch (UIC) def. Megan Brooks (NIU) 6-3, 6-4
