KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Northern Illinois University women’s tennis team was defeated 6-1 by the in-form team in the Mid-American Conference, Western Michigan, on Saturday afternoon in Kalamazoo.

The Broncos (17-5, 6-1 MAC) were too much for the Huskies (6-12, 1-5 MAC) – as the WMU squad has been for many opponents for much of the season, with the Broncos winning their last six MAC matches and 10 consecutive home matches.

Adey Osabuohien (Hazel Crest, Ill./Stony Brook) proved to be the bright spot for the Huskies, who now must win both of their home matches against Miami and Eastern Michigan at home next weekend in order to have any chance of qualifying for the MAC Tournament this season.

The NIU junior No. 1 singles player defeated Melina Lyubomirova, 6-2, 6-2, for her 15th individual win of the spring and third consecutive singles victory in MAC play. Osabuohien now owns a 15-3 singles record in 2016, the best of any NIU women’s tennis player.

Looking for a strong finish to the year, NIU will host Miami on Friday and Eastern Michigan next Sunday to close out the regular season with two matches on campus in DeKalb at the NIU Tennis Courts if weather permits.

Western Michigan 6, NIU 1
Singles
No. 1: Adey Osabuohien (NIU) def. Melina Lyubomirova (WMU), 6-2, 6-2
No. 2: Tracy Kuhle (WMU) def. Cristina Alvarez (NIU), 6-4, 6-2
No. 3: Barbare Eristavi (WMU) def. Abigail Dekkinga (NIU), 6-2, 6-3
No. 4: Katia Fevralev (WMU) def. Michelle Erasmus (NIU), 6-1, 6-1
No. 5: Meika Ashby (WMU) def. Evelyn Youel (NIU), 6-3, 6-0
No. 6: Denise Azcui (WMU) def. Meghan Montgomerie (NIU), 6-1, 6-4

Doubles
No. 1: Kuhle/Lyubomirova (WMU) vs. Osabuohien/Youel (NIU), 2-3 DNF
No. 2: Eristavi/Fevralev (WMU) def. Erasmus/Dekkinga (NIU), 6-1
No. 3: Ashby/Azcui (WMU) def. Alvarez/Montgomerie (NIU), 6-0

--NIU--