Oct. 22, 2011

ROCKFORD, Ill. - The Northern Illinois women's tennis team picked up where it left off on Friday during Day Two of the ITA Second Chance Regional. The Huskies grabbed three singles wins as well as a doubles win during play on Saturday at Boylan Tennis Center.

The Huskies saw mixed results for the second straight day, but head coach Ryun Ferrell seemed eager and optimistic about the work being done by his team.

"We looked tough today," NIU Head Coach Ryun Ferrell said. "Everyone looked tired, but determined. With the last day of the tournament arriving -- it is always the toughest day to play -- we need to get tough right with it. We are walking a very neat path, and just need to continue. Good things come with hard work."

Senior Sara McLaughlin (Moline, Ill./Moline) continued to bounce back from a rough fall season by defeating Western Michigan's Kathleen Hawkins 5-7, 6-4, 10-9. While the close battle marked only McLaughlin's second win of the year, it earned her a spot in the NIU Singles Flight Championship against Wisconsin's Sara Loebel.

Also earning marks in the win column were sophomore Ilse Pacheco (San Luis Potosi, Mexico/Alma Patria) and senior Emily Rogers (Rochester, Minn./Century). Pacheco took down Ruta Grinvalde of Chicago State by a score of 7-6, 6-0 to give herself a chance at the Black Singles Flight Championship. She will take on Western Michigan Bronco, Caroline Aleck. Rogers beat Christina Colarossi of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 6-1, 6-3 to pick up her first victory of the tournament.

The veteran doubles tandem of Rogers and McLaughlin tallied its second victory in the Victor E. Doubles Flight over the Michigan State Spartan duo of Silesova and Herzog by a score of 8-5. The win landed the Huskie doubles partners a spot in the championship match against Western Michigan's team of Hawkins and Alecks.

NIU will look forward to crowning three champions in tomorrow. The final day of play begins at approximately 10:00 a.m. CT.

Black Singles Flight
Mary Malkin lost to Caroline Aleck (WMU)
Ilse Pacheco defeated Ruta Grinvalde (CSU) - 7-6, 6-0

Gullikson Singles Flight
Emily Rogers defeated Christina Colarossi (UWM) - 6-1, 6-3

Red Singles Flight
Haley Dekkinga lost to Brittany Skemp (UWM) - 3-6, 6-2, 9-10
Arantza De La Torre lost to Lauren Gruber (UW) - 0-6, 0-6

NIU Singles Flight
Sara McLaughlin defeated Kathleen Hawkins (WMU) - 5-7, 6-4, 10-9
Nelle Youel lost to Sara Loebel (UW) - 1-6, 1-6

Victor E. Doubles Flight
Rogers/McLaughlin defeated Silesova/Herzog (MSU) - 8-5

Huskie Doubles Flight
Youel/Dekkinga lost to Pastunink/Shusrova (WMU) - 5-8
De La Torre/Pacheco lost to Fritz/Bailey (UWM) - 5-8