ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team won its fifth-straight match when it defeated in-state rival Illinois State, 5-2 at the Boylan Tennis Center Saturday.
 
"I am proud of the team," said NIU head coach Tanya Mahefu. "This really was a team effort and we really played well as a team. We look forward to the next match and we will continue to keep working hard."
 
The Huskies (6-2) won the doubles' point with Adey Osabuohien (Hazel Crest, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and Raven Neely (Grosse Point, Mich./Grosse Point South) leading the way. The Huskie duo improved to 6-0 at No. 1 doubles with a 6-2 win. Pauline Chawafambira (Dangamvura, Mutare, Zimbabwe) and Abigail Dekkinga (Allegan, Mich./Allegan Senior) clinched it with a 6-4 at No. 3 doubles.
 
Osabuohien was in a battle with Illinois State's Marcia Tere-Apisah at No. 1 singles. The Huskie senior won the first set, 6-4, before falling 4-6 in the second set. Osabouhein outlasted in the third set to prevail, 12-10. Abbie-Jade Riley (Wolverhampton, England/Hagley Catholic) rallied from a first set loss to Andrea Beneroso, posting 6-0 and 6-2 wins in the final two sets to post the victory at No. 6 singles and clinch the win for NIU.
 
Neely and Chawafambira each posted straight set wins at No. 2 and 3 singles, respectively, to help in the Huskie victory.
 
The NIU women's tennis team returns to action Saturday when the Huskies travel to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville. The match begins at 4:30 p.m. CT.
 
NIU def. Illinois State, 5-2
 
Doubles
1. Adey Osabuohien/Raven Neely (NIU) def. Marcia Tere-Apisah/Jelena Karla Vujicic (ISU), 6-2
2. Jana Kustkova/Gabriela Sprague (ISU) def. Evelyn Youel/Meghan Montgomerie (NIU), 6-3
3. Pauline Chawafambira/Abigail Dekkinga (NIU) def. Valerija Gercer/Andrea Beneroso (ISU), 6-4
 
Singles
1. Adey Osabuohien (NIU) def. Marcia Tere-Apisah (ISU), 6-4, 4-6, 12-10
2. Raven Neely (NIU) def. Jelena Karla Vujicic (ISU), 6-1, 7-6
3. Pauline Chawafambira (NIU) def. Jana Kustkova (ISU), 6-1, 6-3
4. Gabriela Sprague (ISU) def. Abigail Dekkinga (NIU), 6-3, 5-7, 10-8
5. Valerija Gercer (ISU) def. Brodie Walker (NIU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Abbie-Jade Riley (NIU) def. Andrea Beneroso (ISU), 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
 
-NIU-