Jan. 30, 2009

MADISON, Wis. - The Huskies' No. 3 doubles team of Kathryn Friedlund and Emily Rogers defeated Wisconsin's tandem, but the Northern Illinois women's tennis team (0-1) dropped a 7-0 decision against the No. 68 Badgers in the 2009 season opener at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium Friday afternoon.

"For our first match of the season, I was very pleased with how we competed," said NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell. "Once we settled down in singles, we looked good, and it was the same case in doubles. Winning our No. 3 doubles match was certainly a nice consolation. "

"We've got work to do, but our goal this weekend is to improve from Friday to Sunday. I'm pretty excited to see what this team is going to be like about a month from now."

For Rogers, a freshman, it was her first-career win at NIU in a dual-match. She also had a strong showing at the No. 5 singles flight, where she dropped a 6-1, 6-4 decision against the Badgers' Angela Chupa.

Wisconsin captured the decisive doubles point, posting respective 8-1 and 8-0 pro-set wins at the No. 1 and No. 2 flights. Senior Nao Umemura and sophomore Brooke Forsberg teamed up at the No. 1 doubles spot for the Huskies, while freshman Sara McGlaughlin and senior Lilian Asuaje was NIU's No. 2 doubles tandem.

In singles play, Asuaje dropped a 6-0, 6-0 decision at the No. 1 flight, while Friedlund fell in straight-sets (6-0, 6-3) to Wisconsin's Emese Kardhordo at No. 2 singles. In the third flight, Martina Schnaap, playing her first career dual match at NIU, fell in a 6-0, 6-0 decision. McGlaughlin played No. 6, and fell to the Badgers' Aleksandra Markovic, 6-1, 6-1.

The Huskies will travel to Milwaukee to take on Marquette Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.