DeKALB, Ill. - The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team's undefeated start to the spring 2015 season - its best start in at least a decade - hasn't gone unnoticed nationally.

After defeating Southeast Missouri, Valparaiso and Chicago State last weekend, the Huskies (8-0) were listed in this week's Intercollegiate Tennis Association's NCAA Division I Women's Team Rankings, ranked as the No. 74 team in the country.

NIU is the only team from the Mid-American Conference listed in this week's ITA rankings.

Led by first-year head coach Tanya Gombera, the NIU women's tennis program has won all eight of its matches this spring, thanks to the team winning the doubles point in every match and undefeated starts in singles by seniors Nelle Youel (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake Central) and Mary Malkin (Tel Aviv, Israel/Alliance), along with strong starts to the season by several other Huskies.

After a perfect six-match homestand, the Huskies will head on the road for their next seven matches, starting this weekend at Southern Illinois.

The NIU women's tennis team will face the Salukis on Saturday at 9 a.m. in Carbondale, Ill., aiming to back up its newly earned ranking.

--NIU--