April 12, 2013
TOLEDO, Ohio - Northern Illinois sophomore Nelle Youel won her singles and doubles matches at the No. 1 position as she nears the Huskie school records for single season victories, but NIU dropped a tight 4-3 match to Toledo Friday in Toledo.
Youel and doubles partner Arantza De La Torre defeated Toledo's Lexy Pitt and Emily Mazzola, 8-5, at No. 1 doubles, and the Crystal Lake product claimed a 7-6, 6-1 win at No. 1 singles. With the singles win, Youel's record improved to 19-2 this spring as she picked up her 25th victory of the year. Youel needs one win to tie the NIU school record for singles wins in a season, which was set by Natacha Koprivica in 1998-99.
In addition to Youel's victory at No. 1, the Huskies' Arantza De La Torre and Stephanie McDonald won their matches at No. 4 and No. 6 singles, respectively. De La Torre won 10-3 in the third game superset to complete a comeback victory, while McDonald claimed the third set by a 12-10 margin.
"This was a tough day," said NIU Head Coach Ryun Ferrell, who saw his team drop to 14-7 overall, 0-5 in the Mid-American Conference, with the loss. "We are so close. The nice thing is we have another one [Saturday] to get it done."
Toledo improved to 8-11, 2-4 in the MAC, with the win. Northern Illinois now travels to Ypsilanti, Mich. for a Noon (CT) match versus Eastern Michigan (7-12, 2-3 MAC).
Toledo 4, Northern Illinois 3
Toledo, Ohio
Doubles
1. Nelle Youel/Arantza De La Torre (NIU) def. Lexy Pitt/Emily Mazzola (UT), 8-5
2. Mackenzie Bowman/Pia Rygh (UT) def. Haley Dekkinga/ Stephanie McDonald (NIU), 8-2
3. Silvia Carvajal/Katelyn Nguyen (UT) def. Ilse Pacheco/Mary Malkin (NIU), 8-1
Singles
1. Nelle Youel (NIU) def. Katelyn Nguyen (UT), 7-6, 6-1
2. Chrissy Coffman (UT) def. Haley Dekkinga (NIU), 6-4, 6-0
3. Pia Rygh (UT) def. Mary Malkin (NIU), 6-1, 6-0
4. Arantza De La Torre (NIU) def. Lexy Pitt (UT), 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-3)
5. Emily Mazzola (UT) def. Cristina Alvarez (NIU). 6-0, 6-2
6. Stephanie McDonald (NIU) def. Silvia Carvajal (UT), 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 (12-10)
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