ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team fell to Mid-American Conference opponent Akron, 6-1, Saturday.
 
"This was a tough loss for the team," said NIU head coach Tanya Mahefu. The score doesn't reflect how close the matches were. We had chances to get the doubles point, but could not close out big points."
 
Maria Potsi (Athens, Greece/1st Gel Cholargou) posted NIU's (5-15, 0-6) lone victory of the match. Potsi scored a hard-fought, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5, win at No. 2 singles. Brodie Walker (Bristol, England/Bristol Grammar School) saw her five-match winning streak to come to end. The Huskie sophomore fell to Anna Ulijanov, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, at No. 4 singles.
 
NIU was unable to capture the doubles point, losing No. 2 and No. 3 doubles, 6-4, each.
 
The NIU women's tennis team returns to the court Sunday, April 15 when the Huskies travel to Muncie, Ind. to face Ball State. The match begins at 12 p.m. CT. Fans can get updates from the matches this week via Twitter through @niuwomenstennis.
 
Akron 6, Northern Illinois 1
 
Doubles Competition
1. Rita Pedroso/Anna Ulijanov (UA) vs. Thisuri Molligoda/Evelyn Youel (NIU), DNF
2. Carli Knezevich/Miruna Vasilescu (UA) def. Maria Potsi/Lara Slisko (NIU), 6-4
3. Luisa Echeverry/Waverly Wituski (UA) def. Abigail Dekkinga/Brodie Walker (NIU), 6-4
 
Singles Competition
1. Miruna Vasilescu (UA) def. Thisuri Molligoda (NIU); 6-2, 6-4
2. Maria Potsi (NIU) def. Rita Pedroso (UA); 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
3. Carli Knezevich (UA) def. Abigail Dekkinga (NIU); 6-2, 6-0
4. Anna Ulijanov (UA) def. Brodie Walker (NIU); 6-2, 2-6, 6-4
5. Luisa Echeverry (UA) def. Evelyn Youel (NIU); 6-1, 7-5
6. Carla Flores (UA) def. Lara Slisko (NIU); 6-4, 6-3
 
-NIU-