DES MOINES, Iowa – The Northern Illinois University women's tennis team concluded the fall portion of its 2021-22 schedule with a dominating performance at the Bulldog Invitational hosted by Drake University over the weekend.
 
The Huskies won 16 of 17 singles matches during the three-day event. NIU opened the event with a stellar day on Friday winning eight of nine matches, taking all three doubles matches from Nebraska-Omaha and five of six singles from host Drake.
 
"We are so proud of the effort this weekend," NIU head coach Eric Burns said. "I'm pretty sure I've never had a team only lose one singles match for the whole weekend at an invite. Just exceptional play across the board. I still think we have more to continue to work on, especially our doubles."
 
NIU's success continued Saturday. After dropping two of three doubles matches to Milwaukee, the Huskies won all six singles competitions against UNO.
 
The Huskies wrapped the event winning all five singles matches with Milwaukee. However, Drake took all three doubles matches.
 
Sophomores Diana Lukyanova and Anastasia Rakita and freshman Reagan Welch competed all three days and went a perfect 3-0 in singles action on the weekend. Lukyanova did not lose a set all weekend.
 
"We still aren't there yet but we did improve this weekend," Burns said. "All in all, a great and positive way to end our fall season. Now we set our sights on the spring and continue to work to see where we can go with this team."
 
NIU will open the spring season Sun., Jan. 23 when the Huskies travel to Champaign-Urbana for a doubleheader against Eastern Illinois and host Illinois.
 
Friday, Nov. 5
Singles
Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. Daria Walczak (DU), 6-2,6-4
Ines Stephani (DU) def. Erika Dimitriev (NIU), 6-2,6-1
Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Darinka Stepan (DU), 6-4,6-3
Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Kelsey Neville (DU), 6-1,6-2
Christy Robinson (NIU) def. Jyun-Yi Lee (DU), 6-1,7-6(6)
Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Kendall Hunt (DU), 6-2,6-0
 
Doubles
Dimitriev/Rakita (NIU) def. Absisan/Tiemeyer (UNO), 8-5
Welch/Lukyanova (NIU) def. Di Giulio/Miller (UNO), 8-4
Dmitrieva/Naves (NIU) def. Linscott/Kelley (UNO), 8-2
 
Saturday, Nov. 6
Doubles
Carbone/Stejskalova (UWM) def. Dimitriev/Rakita (NIU), 8-4
Welch/Lukyanova (NIU) def. Perova/Tylek (UWM), 8-3
Durham/Cavestro (UWM) def. Dmitrieva/Naves (NIU), 8-6
 
Singles
Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Alexia Di Giulio (UNO), 6-1, 6-1
Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. Ines Absisan (UNO), 6-2, 6-4
Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Addison Miller (UNO), 6-3, 6-2
Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Lily Tiemeyer (UNO), 6-3, 3-6, 6-2
Angelica Ross (NIU) def. Colby Kelley (UNO), 6-2, 6-3
luliia Dmitrieva (NIU) def. Justine Linscott (UNO), 6-0, 6-1
 
Sunday, Nov. 7
 
Singles
Erika Dimitriev (NIU) def. Mayya Perova (UWM), 6-3, 4-6, 6-0
Diana Lukyanova (NIU) def. Nikki Milner (UWM), 7-5, 6-3
Anastasia Rakita (NIU) def. Iva Stejskalova (UWM), 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
Reagan Welch (NIU) def. Anika Tylek (UWM), 6-2, 6-3
Christy Robinson (NIU) def. Avery Durham (UWM), 6-2, 6-3
no player (UWM) vs. Angelica Ross (NIU)
 
Doubles
Petushkova/Walczak (DU) def. Dimitriev/Rakita (NIU), 8-3
Stephani/Stepan (DU) def. Welch/Lukyanova (NIU), 8-3
Haagensen/Neville (DU) def. Naves/Dmitrieva (NIU), 8-2
 
NIU