April 9, 2010

Final Results

DEKALB, Ill. - Junior Martina Schnapp won her second-consecutive Mid-American Conference singles match, but the Northern Illinois women's tennis team dropped a 6-1 decision versus unbeaten Akron at the Huskie Tennis Courts Friday afternoon.

"I thought we played pretty well today," said NIU head coach Ryun Ferrell. "Akron is a strong team, particularly at the top of their lineup, and they showed that today. I thought Martina (Schnapp) really hung tough, and my freshman really stepped up to the challenge today.

"We'll look to end our homestand on a high note tomorrow against Buffalo. We've had some very similar scores against common opponents, so it should be a battle and a great challenge for us."

The Zips out-dueled the Huskies for the doubles point, posting 8-3, 8-6 and 8-2 wins in the respective first-through-third flights. Senior Kathryn Friedlund and sophomore Sara McLaughlin, teamed at No. 2, held the early lead, and nearly forced the pro-set into extra frames, but eventually fell in regulation, 8-6.

Akron recorded straight-set wins in each of the top-five singles positions, but the Huskies battled through the middle of the lineup. Freshman Brittni Fausett, playing No. 2, dropped the opening set 6-0, before falling in a hard-fought tiebreaker (7-4) in dropping the second set, 7-6. Classmate

Kelly Phillips, slotted at fifth singles, was up a break in the first set, but eventually fell in a 6-3 decision, and fell in the decisive second frame, 6-1. At No. 6 singles, Schnapp decisively won the first set over Akron's Jeremie Benjamin, before falling in a 6-1 decision in the second stanza. Schnapp then defeated Benjamin in a match-deciding super tie-breaker, 10-6.

Northern Illinois will wrap up its homestand by hosting Buffalo at the Huskie Tennis Courts Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. The Bulls were idle today, and are coming off a 4-3 loss to Toledo last weekend.