MINNEAPOLIS – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team suffered a 7-0 setback to Minnesota in the dual-match season opener at the Baseline Tennis Center Saturday.
"I am happy with the way we competed in doubles especially," said NIU head coach
Tanya Mahefu. "We had our opportunities in singles to take control of the match, but we were unable to close out big points. Overall, I feel like it was a good match and the team competed hard."
Adey Osabuohien (Hazel Crest, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and
Raven Neely (Grosse Point, Mich./Grosse Point South) scored NIU's (0-1) lone victory on the day at No. 1 doubles. The Huskie duo scored a 6-4 victory over Caroline Ryba and Cammy Frei.
Senior
Pauline Chawafambira (Dangamvura, Mutare, Zimbabwe) and
Abigail Dekkinga (Allegan, Mich./Allegan Senior) battled at No. 3 doubles, however, they suffered a 7-5 setback to Caitlyn Merzbacher and Tina Kreinis.
Chawafambira and Neely performed well at No. 2 and 3 singles, respectively. Chawafambira took the opening set, 6-2, in her match with Barbara Mancera. However, she suffered a 6-0 loss in the second set. Chawafambira fought hard in the third set, but was edged out, 6-4, by Mancera. Neely dropped the opening set to Kreinis 6-2, but pushed the Golden Gopher freshman in the second set. Unfortunately, Neely fell, 7-5, to lose the match.
The NIU women's tennis team returns to action Sunday when the Huskies face South Dakota State at the Baseline Tennis Center. The match begins at 9 a.m.
Singles
1. Caroline Ryba (MINN) def.
Adey Osabuohien (NIU) 6-7 (4-7), 3-2
2. Barbara Mancera (MINN) def.
Pauline Chawafambira (NIU) 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
3. Tina Kreinis (MINN) def.
Raven Neely (NIU) 6-2, 7-5
4. Annemarie Emme (MINN) def.
Abigail Dekkinga (NIU) 6-1, 6-2
5. Camila Vargas Gomez (MINN) def.
Brodie Walker (NIU) 6-4, 6-2
6. Mehvish Safdar (MINN) def.
Evelyn Youel (NIU) 6-0, 6-1
Doubles
1. Osabuohien/Neely (NIU) def. Ryba/Frei (MINN) 6-4
2. Emme/Safdar (MINN) def. Youel/Walker (NIU) 6-2
3. Merzbacher/Kreinis (MINN) def. Chawafambira/Dekkinga (NIU) 7-5
-NIU-
